Munger: A senior Maoist commander carrying a Rs 3 lakh bounty surrendered before police in Bihar’s Munger district, officials said, calling it a major breakthrough in anti-insurgency operations. The surrendered militant, Suresh Koda, had been active for years in hilly forest regions and was associated with the banned outfit CPI (Maoist).
Police said Koda laid down arms at the district police centre in the presence of DIG Rakesh Kumar and other officials. He surrendered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-56 rifle, two INSAS rifles, and 505 live cartridges. Authorities stated that his surrender marks a significant milestone and claimed that with this development, all 23 districts of Bihar are now free from armed Naxal presence.
Koda, a resident of Paisra village under Ladaiyantand police station limits in Munger, was active in Munger, Lakhisarai, and Jamui districts and had more than 50 criminal cases registered against him between 2008 and July 2025. These included allegations of murder, arson, bomb attacks, extortion-related violence, and encounters with security forces.
Speaking after surrendering, Koda apologized for his past actions and said he wanted to live a normal life with his family. He also raised slogans praising the Special Task Force, officials present said.
District Magistrate Nikhil Dhanraj Nippanikar described the surrender as a proud moment for both Munger and Bihar, adding that benefits under the central government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy would be provided to him soon. He said the development would accelerate progress in previously affected areas.
Background operations and encounters
Security agencies had been tracking Koda’s movements for months. Intelligence inputs in May–June 2025 indicated increased Maoist activity in forests near the Haveli Kharagpur region. A raid by the SSB uncovered 865 bullets and four deer antlers from a jungle hideout, and a bomb was later defused in the same area, confirming militant presence.
A search operation led by DSP Sunil Kumar resulted in an encounter in the Rajasarai area, where around 100 rounds were fired before militants escaped under cover of darkness. Another major gunfight occurred on July 5, 2025, lasting nearly an hour and involving about 200 rounds of firing. Though Koda was reportedly injured, he managed to flee using the terrain.
Following sustained combing operations and mounting pressure from security forces, officials said, he ultimately decided to surrender and abandon armed activities.
