Ranchi, July 29: In a significant breakthrough for anti-Naxal operations, security forces in Jharkhand have achieved a major success this year. Misir Besra, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and a wanted Maoist with a bounty of one crore rupees, has been arrested along with two key associates. Authorities consider this arrest one of the most significant achievements in the ongoing campaign against Maoists in the state.
According to official sources, a joint operation was conducted late Tuesday night by the Jharkhand Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Cobra Battalion based on intelligence inputs. The operation took place in the bordering areas of Dhanbad and Giridih districts, leading to the capture of Misir Besra. Alongside him, two other Maoists, identified as Mehnat alias Mochhu alias Vibhishan Murmu and Gaurav alias Saurabh, were also apprehended. During the operation, two additional individuals were taken into custody for questioning.
Prior to Misir Besra’s arrest, 16 Maoists had surrendered in Ranchi on Tuesday, including his close bodyguard, Devaan Murmu alias Shanicharwa. Security agencies obtained crucial information from him regarding Misir Besra’s activities and potential hideouts, which facilitated the operation that led to the arrest. Misir Besra, also known by aliases such as Sunirmal and Sagar, hails from the Pirtaand area of Giridih district. He joined the Maoist organization nearly four decades ago and later became a member of its highest decision-making body, the Politburo.
He has over 150 cases registered against him across Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, including charges of murder, attacks on security forces, IED explosions, extortion, and kidnapping. Misir Besra was previously arrested by Khunti police in 2007 but escaped from custody during a Maoist attack in the court premises of Lakhisarai, Bihar, in 2009. Since then, he has remained on the most-wanted list of security agencies for nearly two decades. Officials believe that his arrest will deliver a significant blow to the leadership of the Maoist organization in Jharkhand.
In recent months, the organization has already weakened due to continuous encounters, arrests, and surrenders. The capture of top leadership is expected to impact the remaining network as well. Currently, central and state security agencies are interrogating Misir Besra and his associates in a secure location. Authorities are hopeful that the questioning will yield vital information regarding the active network of the Maoist organization, arms caches, financial sources, and collaborators. However, a detailed official statement regarding the arrest from the police is still awaited.
Leave a Comment