Maoist Leader Akash Sent to 10-Day Police Custody After Arrest in Bengal

A designated court in West Bengal on Friday remanded senior Maoist leader Asim Mandal alias Akash to 10 days’ police custody following his arrest by the Kolkata Police Special Task Force (STF).

Akash, 64, was produced before the designated court on Friday, which ordered that he remain in police custody until September 28. He was arrested by the Kolkata Police STF on Thursday from Purba Medinipur district.

According to police, Akash is a central committee member of the CPI(Maoist) and secretary of its West Bengal State Committee-I. He was allegedly involved in organising Maoist activities in the state’s Jangalmahal region between 2008 and 2011.

Police also described Akash as a close associate of Mallojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishenji, a senior Maoist military commander who was killed in an encounter with security forces in West Bengal’s Jhargram district in 2011.

The police said Akash had been wanted in several criminal cases across West Bengal and Jharkhand. As per the police, 17 criminal cases were registered against him in Jharkhand, while another 13 cases were pending against him in West Bengal.

The authorities had announced a reward of Rs 1 crore for information leading to Akash’s arrest.

The latest arrest comes as security agencies continue to track Maoist networks and their alleged operatives in areas that had witnessed significant Left-wing extremism in previous years.

Following his arrest, the police sought his custody for further investigation into his alleged activities, organisational links and the cases registered against him.

The court subsequently granted the police a 10-day custody period, during which investigators are expected to question Akash in connection with the cases and gather further information about the alleged Maoist network.

Police have not disclosed details of the specific evidence or investigative findings that led to his arrest. Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.