Pranav Pratyush
Ranchi
In one of the biggest successes of Jharkhand’s ongoing anti-Naxal campaign, security forces have arrested Ajay Mahto alias Tiger alias Basudev, a senior CPI (Maoist) leader carrying a reward of Rs 25 lakh.
The operation, carried out in Giridih district, is being viewed as a significant blow to the banned outfit’s network in the Parasnath region and adjoining areas.
According to police, Ajay Mahto was apprehended during a late-night joint operation by Jharkhand Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) after intelligence agencies received specific inputs about his presence in Harladih village.
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) reportedly shared the information with state police, following which a special joint team was constituted to verify the input and launch a coordinated raid.
Acting on the intelligence, security personnel raided the residence of Karmu Manjhi in Harladih, where Mahto was allegedly taking shelter. He was arrested without any exchange of fire. Two other suspected Maoists found at the location were also taken into custody.
All three are currently being interrogated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to gather information about the Maoist network, operational plans, logistics, arms supply routes and the whereabouts of other senior cadres.
Police identified Ajay Mahto as a resident of Nawadih village under Pirtand police station in Giridih district. He is believed to have served as a Special Area Committee Member of the CPI (Maoist) and was the Zonal Commander of the Parasnath region. Investigators also described him as a close associate of senior Maoist leader Misir Besra, one of the country’s most wanted insurgent commanders.
The Jharkhand government had announced a reward of Rs 25 lakh for information leading to Mahto’s arrest. According to police records, he is wanted in more than 100 criminal cases involving murder, extortion, robbery, attacks on security forces, improvised explosive device (IED) blasts and destruction of government property. He is also accused of orchestrating several major Maoist attacks across the Giridih, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Hazaribagh border regions, where the banned outfit maintained a strong presence for years.
Investigating agencies alleged that Mahto played a key role in extorting contractors, setting construction vehicles on fire, disrupting infrastructure projects and planning ambushes on security personnel. Officials believe his activities significantly contributed to sustaining Maoist influence in the forested Parasnath belt and surrounding districts.
Apart from being wanted in Jharkhand, Mahto also figured on the wanted lists of police in Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha, where multiple criminal cases have been registered against him. Security agencies had been tracking his movements for several years but he had managed to evade arrest by frequently changing hideouts.
Police officials said the Giridih district administration had earlier recommended prosecution against Mahto and 11 other Maoist leaders under charges of sedition and provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a proposal that has already been approved by the state Home Department. His arrest is expected to expedite both the investigation and legal proceedings in several pending cases.
Giridih Superintendent of Police Dr. Bimal Kumar described the arrest as a “major blow” to the CPI (Maoist), saying it marks another important milestone in Jharkhand’s sustained campaign against Left-Wing Extremism. He reiterated that anti-Naxal operations would continue with full force until the remaining extremist network is dismantled and warned that stringent action would be taken against all those involved in insurgent activities.
