DIG Praveen Kumar Singh hands over cash to the girl while SSP Prabhat Kumar looks on in Ranchi on Thursday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Sept. 11: A 15-year-old girl, who was given away to the Maoists by a relative five years ago and had been working in rebel commander Kundan Pahan’s camp as a cook and porter till her escape last year, surrendered before Ranchi police today.

The minor, who was forced to work for the guerrillas against her wish and was even allegedly sexually exploited by Pahan, received Rs 50,000 from South Chotanagpur DIG Praveen Kumar Singh under the Jharkhand government’s surrender policy.

Singh said that tomorrow, she would be produced before the judicial magistrate after which she would be kept in a remand home.

Speaking to mediapersons, the DIG said the girl, who hails from Garupidi in Namkum police station area of Ranchi, was handed over to Maoists by her brother-in-law in 2009 and came into contact with top rebel leaders like Pahan and Prasadji.

“After her induction into the banned rebel outfit, she was put into their women’s committee. While being taken to Bundu-Chandil zone in 2010, she faced an encounter with police at Rabo village in the Tamar police station. She later stayed in Maoist camps at Maelpiri and Gitilbera from where she went to Saranda.

“At Saranda, she stayed till 2012 with two Maoists leaders Anmol and Prashant and also came in contact with top guns Pahan, Kishanda, Anal, Misir Besra, alias Sagar, Atul and Pushpa,” he said.

She also told police that she was made to undergo training for making bombs and was sexually exploited by Pahan.

“In January 2013, she reached Pahan’s camp in Beerbanki and from there went to Chandil area, where she was taught to prepare bombs and IEDs. In May 2013, when she returned to Pahan’s camp, he sexually exploited her. After coming to know the atrocities she faced at Pahan’s hands, we are planning to register a rape case against him at Arki police station,” the DIG said.

Finally, the 15-year-old escaped from the Beerbanki camp in November 2013 though police couldn’t say how and went back to her home in Namkum, where she started living with her aunt.

She eventually came in contact with police, thanks to the efforts of several lower-rank officers, SSP Prabhat Kumar, SP (rural) S.K. Jha and ASP (operations) Harshpal Singh and agreed to surrender.

When asked about her stay in the Maoist hideouts and miraculous escape, the girl mumbled: “I was made to join the Maoists against my will and escaped from their clutches as soon as I got the opportunity.”

On her fate post-surrender, the DIG said: “As she is a minor, she will be taken to a remand home. Proper arrangements for her education will be made there.”

He went on to add that the minor had been booked in a few cases though none was too serious.

“We have booked her in four cases, but she was not involved in any encounter with police and was used only as a porter and cook by the Maoists. We will ensure her release soon so that she can lead a normal life,” he said.