CPI (Maoist) Politburo member Misir Besra, who carried a bounty of ₹2.20 crore and was wanted in 175 cases across Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, was sent to judicial custody along with two other hardcore Maoists on Wednesday after completing their 14-day police remand.
Besra alias Sagar Da and Bhaskar Da, 65, and his associates Mehnat alias Mochu, carrying a ₹15-lakh reward, and Gaurav were arrested in Dhanbad during Operation Daura Pahad. According to Jharkhand DGP Tadasha Mishra, the three were wanted in 320 criminal cases collectively.
The three were taken to Ranchi on July 31 after they were remanded to police custody. During the 14-day remand, teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Jharkhand Police questioned them about Maoist activities, funding channels, arms supplies and their network of associates.
The trio were brought back to Dhanbad on Wednesday and taken to Sadar Hospital for medical examination amid tight security. Additional police personnel were deployed in and around the hospital. After the medical examination, they were produced before the court and sent to judicial custody.
Police said Besra had joined the banned outfit in 1980 and became a member of its central committee in 2003. He was described by the DGP as the only active top-ranking CPI (Maoist) Politburo member. Police officials said he played a key role in expanding the Maoist network and forming armed squads in Jharkhand and neighbouring states.
{{/usCountry}}Police said Besra had joined the banned outfit in 1980 and became a member of its central committee in 2003. He was described by the DGP as the only active top-ranking CPI (Maoist) Politburo member. Police officials said he played a key role in expanding the Maoist network and forming armed squads in Jharkhand and neighbouring states.
{{/usCountry}}Jharkhand IG Narendra Singh said the three were allegedly involved in several major attacks, bank robberies, looting of arms and ammunition and IED blasts. He said the trio were responsible for the deaths of over 100 security personnel.
Police said the three were trying to revive Maoist activities in the Parasnath region. Security forces will intensify operations to trace the remaining 15–20 Maoists believed to be active in Jharkhand, Singh said.