In a major breakthrough under Jharkhand's ongoing anti-Naxal operations, security forces arrested notorious Maoist leader Ajay Mahato alias Tiger alias Basudev, who carried a bounty of Rs 25 lakh.
Two other Maoists were also apprehended during the operation, and all three are being interrogated by a Special Investigation Team in Giridih. Police have described the operation as one of their most significant successes against Left-Wing Extremism in recent years.
According to police, Ajay Mahato, a resident of Nawadih village under Pirtand police station in Giridih district, was a Special Area Committee Member of the CPI (Maoist) and served as the Zonal Commander of the Parasnath region.
The Jharkhand government had announced a reward of Rs 25 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
Police records show that Mahato is accused in more than 100 criminal cases, including murder, extortion, robbery, attacks on security forces, IED blasts, and destruction of government property.
He is alleged to have masterminded several major Maoist attacks across the Giridih, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Hazaribagh border regions.
Also read: Jharkhand to witness biggest-ever Maoist surrender on May 21
Investigating agencies said Mahato had long been involved in extorting contractors, torching vehicles engaged in road construction projects, and carrying out ambushes on security personnel.
His activities were considered a major factor behind the prolonged Maoist influence in the Parasnath region and adjoining areas.
Apart from being wanted in Jharkhand, Mahato was also on the wanted lists of the police in Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha, with multiple criminal cases registered against him across these states. Security agencies had been tracking him for several years.
The Giridih district administration had earlier recommended prosecution against Mahato and 11 other Maoists under charges of sedition and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a proposal that has already received approval from the state Home Department. Officials said his arrest is expected to accelerate the legal proceedings against him.
Following the operation, security has been intensified in Maoist-affected areas of the district, with police continuing search operations to trace and apprehend other active members of the banned outfit.
SP Dr Bimal Kumar termed the arrest of the Rs 25 lakh reward Maoist a "major blow" to the CPI (Maoist). He said the anti-Naxal campaign would continue with full force and warned that stringent action would be taken against all remaining extremists operating in the region.
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