Police arrest Maoist sub zonal commander in Jharkhand
Palamu (Jharkhand), Nov.21 (ANI)
In another combing operation against the ultras, police and para military forces arrested the sub zonal commander of Maoist and seized arms and explosives in Palamu, Jharkhand.
Superintendent of Police, Palamu, Anup T Mathew told reporters that Prabhu Yadav was arrested along with five kilograms of IED near Paki area. He added that some hidden explosives and items, including seven gelatin sticks, 25 detonators and wires from other areas, were also recovered from him.
Mathew revealed that Yadav was quite active in Paki and Lesliganj areas.
The Commandant of the 134th CRPF Battalion, Anil Minz, described Yadav's arrest is another big achievement for the state police and a setback for Maoists in the Palamu area.
"There are five police cases against him which includes three murder cases, one abduction and one is related to an encounter with police and CRPF. There were 20 to 25 cadres who were working with him in spreading fear among the people. He was a notorious sub zonal commander and was active. The police force has been benefitted by his arrest and in the area it is a major setback for the Maoists. After the spot interrogation and after the information provided by him, we launched another operation and we have recovered explosives from various places," said Minz.
In the last few years, the rebels have stepped up their efforts against the government as well as the locals, after various locals complained that Maoist activities such as killings and abductions increased considerably in the area.
Maoists have also significantly increased their presence in tribal and rural regions in the states of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha.
The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of millions of landless labourers and marginal farmers.
However, the government has termed them to be India's main internal security threat and an obstacle to higher growth and more jobs in Asia's third-largest economy.
Hundreds die annually in the conflict, although levels of violence have fallen in recent years.