AJSU supremo Sudesh Mahto on extremists’ hit list; party seeks high-level probe and security review

The AJSU Party has raised alarm over fresh intelligence inputs suggesting that party supremo and former Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto is once again on the hit list of extremists. Calling the threat serious, the party has demanded a high-level investigation into the matter and an immediate review of Mahto’s security arrangements.

According to AJSU central vice presidents Praveen Prabhakar and Hasan Ansari, it is deeply concerning that such threats have emerged multiple times in the past, yet no concrete action has been taken by the authorities. They accused the state government of failing to ensure adequate security for Sudesh Mahto and alleged political indifference.

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Referring to the recent police encounter in Gumla district’s Kamdara area, the leaders stated that slain PLFI commander Martin Kerketta had included Sudesh Mahto in his hit list and had held a meeting in 2023 in Angara to plan an attack on him. “The fact that a top extremist leader was actively plotting to eliminate Mahto shows the gravity of the threat. Yet, no public disclosure has been made by the police about the motives or conspirators,” said Prabhakar.

They further claimed that in an earlier case, a politician had allegedly offered a ₹5 crore ‘supari’ (contract) to extremists to eliminate Mahto, and that too was never fully probed. “Why is Sudesh Mahto repeatedly targeted? Who is behind these conspiracies? These questions must be answered through a high-level, time-bound probe,” said Hasan Ansari.

In 2005, a landmine (can bomb) was planted on the Silli–Pogada route to target Mahto. In 2014, time bombs were planted during the Silli Pratibha Mahotsav, followed by another failed attack attempt at a wedding in Jonha on February 26. Police and villagers had foiled the plot. One of the conspirators, an extremist named Dev Singh Munda, was even inducted into the party under a sinister plan, it was alleged.

AJSU leaders also reminded that PLFI extremists had assassinated Tileshwar Sahu, the party’s then central general secretary, in Barhi (Hazaribagh) in 2014.

They further demanded that the security of Ramchandra Sahis, AJSU’s principal general secretary and former minister, which was recently withdrawn, be immediately restored.

The party said that a delegation will soon meet the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and DGP to submit a formal memorandum seeking urgent intervention.