Kolkata. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced that Naxalism has been completely eradicated from the country. In fact, for about two years, security forces soldiers roamed from forest to forest and killed many big Naxalite leaders. Seeing the situation, all the Naxalite leaders and their associates surrendered in large numbers. However, some Naxalites and their leaders are still absconding. Among them, prominent Naxalite leader Aseem Mandal has been arrested by the STF of Kolkata Police from East Medinipur district. West Bengal CM Shubhendu Adhikari has praised STF on the arrest of Aseem and said that those who challenge security will not be spared.
I commend the Officers and Personnel of the @KolkataPolice STF in successfully tracking and apprehending Asim Mandal @ Akash, Central Committee Member and Secretary of the West Bengal State Committee-I, CPI (Maoist), from Lalat; Patashpur, Purba Medinipur.
Evading law… pic.twitter.com/Z5hHDNgssA
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) September 17, 2026
Asim Mandal was also known among the Naxalites by the names Akash, Timir and Manoj. He used to work in the areas bordering Jharkhand and West Bengal. According to the information, he was caught from Patashpur. Police had announced a reward of Rs 1 crore on Naxalite leader Aseem Mandal. According to the information, West Bengal STF recovered two bags from Asim. These include Maoist literature, books propagating Naxalism and many electronic devices. Asim Mandal is 64 years old. He was a resident of Fulchak village under Chandrakona police station area of West Medinipur. He had become a staunch communist since his student days.
Asim Mandal later joined the Naxalite organization People's War Group. He expanded Naxalism in Sarenga, Goaltod of Bengal and East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. After the formation of Communist Party of India (Maoist), Asim Mandal came to Jangalmahal area of West Bengal and took part in incidents of violence at many places. In the year 2010, the Naxalite organization made him the Secretary of West Bengal State Committee. Asim was also given an important post in the regional committee of Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand. After the death of senior Naxalite leader Kishenji in an encounter in 2011, Aseem Mandal started living in the forest of Saranda in Jharkhand. He left his AK-47 rifle and some documents in the forest on 13-14 August and then disguised himself and was staying with relatives. He had reached Patashpur to take money from an acquaintance to go somewhere. Right there, he was arrested. Asim's wife was also a Naxalite. He was arrested and sent to jail in 2010.