Bokaro: Security forces on Friday arrested a dreaded Maoist leader, Ajay Mahto alias Tiger alias Basudev, carrying Rs 25 lakh on his head, during a late-night raid in Harladih of Giridih, Bokaro range IG Shailendra Kumar Sinha said.A special team raided the residence of one Karmu Manjhi in Harladih, where the accused was allegedly hiding. Mahto was arrested during the operation, while two other Maoist operatives present at the location were also taken into custody. All three are being interrogated by a special investigation team. Mahto is a close associate of wanted Maoist commander Misir Besra.According to police, Ajay Mahto, a resident of Nawadih village under Pirtand police station in Giridih district, served as a Special Area Committee member of the CPI (Maoist) and was the zonal commander of the Parasnath region. Police records show that he is wanted in several criminal cases, including murder, extortion, looting, attacks on police personnel, IED blasts and destruction of govt property.Police said Mahto allegedly masterminded several major Maoist attacks across the border areas of Giridih, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Hazaribag. He was accused of ambushing police teams, torching road construction machinery and extorting contractors. Besides Jharkhand police, law enforcement agencies in Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha were also searching for him.The district administration had earlier recommended prosecution of Ajay Mahto and 12 other Maoists under sedition charges and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The proposal has already received approval from the state home department. Following the arrest, security has been intensified across the district.
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