Top Maoist commander carrying Rs 25 lakh bounty arrested in Jharkhand
In a major blow to Left Wing Extremism in Jharkhand, Giridih Police and the CRPF have jointly arrested top CPI (Maoist) commander Ajay Mahto alias
In a major blow to Left Wing Extremism in Jharkhand, Giridih Police and the CRPF have jointly arrested top CPI (Maoist) commander Ajay Mahto alias Mochu alias Tiger. The arrested Maoist is a member of the organisation's Special Area Committee (SAC) and carried a bounty of Rs 25 lakh on his head. Police received specific intelligence on July 17 about suspected Maoist activity in the forests of Harladih under Khukhra police station limits in Giridih.
Read Full Story Acting on the input, security forces launched a special operation under the guidance of Giridih Superintendent of Police Bimal Kumar and CoBRA 209 Battalion Commandant Saurabh Bhatnagar. The forces surrounded the dense forests around Pipradih village, where Mahto was arrested as he tried to flee. Police said Mahto had been active in Jharkhand's Maoist network for over two decades and had emerged as a key figure in several districts.
More than 240 cases related to murder, IED blasts, ambush attacks on security forces and destruction of government property have been registered against him across different districts. Police said Mahto had joined Maoist activities in 2005 and had earlier served as an area commander in the Parasnath region. Giridih Police said the arrest of the senior Maoist commander has dealt a major blow to the organisation's network and would help strengthen peace and development efforts in the region.
Meanwhile, the Giridih SP appealed to Maoist cadres to abandon violence, surrender before authorities and join the mainstream by availing benefits under the state government's rehabilitation policy for former Maoists. Ends
The BriefWire