Ranchi: In a major breakthrough, police have arrested a top Maoist leader carrying a reward of Rs 20 lakh on his head after a brief encounter in Ranchi district.
Krishna Ahir alias Prasad was arrested in the forests under Angara police station in Ranchi district yesterday, Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar said here on Thursday.
The Maoist was a member of the Jharkhand Regional Committee and was also active in Odisha, he said.
The rebel faces 75/76 naxal-related cases in Jharkhand, including Baliba and Bitkilsoy incidents in Saranda forests where 18 and 29 police personnel respectively were killed by the Maoists about ten years ago.
The Maoist also faces 20/25 cases in Odisha.
Getting information that Ahir was in the jungles, police personnel rushed to the spot. An encounter followed and Ahir was overpowered while his bodyguards fled, the DGP said.
An AK-47 rifle, two sacks of explosives, cartridges and Rs 24,500 were recovered from his possession, the DGP said.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, August 14, 2014, 22:25
