Kishenji's aide Suchitra Mahato 'surrenders'

Calcutta, Mar 9 (PTI): Close Kishenji aide Suchitra Mahato, who had escaped after the Maoist topgun was killed last year, surrendered on Friday, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claiming the injured ultra responded to her government's "offer of peace". An injured Suchitra had fled following the killing of Kishenji by the joint forces on November 24 at Burisole jungle. "This is a big achievement for both the government and my brothers and sisters (Maoists)," said Mamata, flanked by Mahato and her new husband Prabir Garai. She said that Suchitra surrendered to the Intelligence branch before meeting her at Writers' Building. "Suchitra is injured and requires treatment. She has come to surrender with her newly-married husband responding to the government's offer of peace," Banerjee said, renewing her appeal to Maoists to abjure violence and surrender. Suchitra was earlier married to Maoist leader Sashadhar Mahato who was killed in an encounter with the joint forces in West Midnapore on March 10 last year. Her surrender followed that of dreaded Maoist woman leader Jagori Baske on November 17. Baske, who was wanted for the killing of police officer Partha Biswas and his school teacher friend Saumyajit Basu in Purulia in 2010, had surrendered with her husband Rajaram Soren and son Bahadur Soren.