Dhanbad, April 22: It was the legendary Satyawan’s wife “Sati” Savitri who got her husband out from the jaws of death by outwitting the messenger of death “Yamraaj”. The legend is now being enacted by the wife of jailed Maoist Communist Centre leader Jiten Marandi, who has taken up the cudgels for the release of her husband.

Marandi’s wife Sunita, the head of the organisation’s women’s wing , that works under the banner of Naari Mukti Sangh, has circulated pamphlets and posters in the jungle areas of Dhanbad bordering Giridih district demanding the release of her husband.

Jiten was arrested by Patna police on February 25 along with Nepal Maoist leaders and had been lodged with the Beur jail there.The sangh said Jiten was a cultural activist who worked as the head of a cultural outfit “Jharkhand Evan”, which has a broad base in the region. But according to the police, Jharkhand Evan is the cultural wing of MCC and Jiten has been a think-tank of the outfit. The sangh has threatened to observe a bandh if he was not released unconditionally.

“There is no proof to establish that Jiten is an extremist. He has been actively associated with cultural activities in the region. He has his own troupe. The police has an axe to grind against him since he was instrumental in organising rallies against misuse of anti terror law, Pota, against innocent people,” a spokesperson for the Sangh told The Telegraph today.

Cultural activists from the Jharkhand Evan supported by the Naari Mukti Sangh have been organising meetings in remote villages to garner their support to organise a movement to secure the release of Jiten.

In one of her pamphlets, Sunita claimed that Jiten had visited Patna in connection with International Women’s Day celebrations. But he was arrested on February 25 itself.

Nearly all the frontal organisations of MCC have rallied behind Sunita for securing the release of Jiten.

Even the People’s War, which has a negligible presence in and around Dhanbad, has supported Sunita’s initiative.

“Not only Jiten, the police has arrested Chandramohan alias Jha ji from Tundi area after branding him an extremist and accusing him of attacking a police picket in Topchanchi last year. Jha ji is known to be a popular a activist of the Jharkhand Mukti Manch,” said one of the pamphlets circulated by the sangh.

The sangh and other organisations backing the movement have decided to intensify their agitation. But they are happy that the Bihar government is yet to promulgate Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) . This would ensure an easy release of Jiten.

Police officials have confirmed the poster circulation and the meetings that were being organised by the Naari Mukti Sangh. A senior official said since the all women squad has been entrusted with the major activities in Dhanbad and its adjoining areas of Giridih and Bokaro, the sangh is desperate for the release of Jiten.