Major Arrest of Maoist Leader in Jharkhand: A Turning Point in Naxal Activities

In a significant development, Jharkhand police have arrested Misir Besra, a high-ranking member of the CPI (Maoist), who was wanted in numerous criminal cases and had a bounty of ₹2.20 crores. This arrest is seen as a pivotal moment in the state's efforts to combat Naxalism, with the DGP claiming that the capture of such notorious figures is leading to the near eradication of Maoist activities in the region. Alongside Besra, two other Maoists were also apprehended during the operation, highlighting the ongoing crackdown on Naxal networks in Jharkhand.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 29, 2026, 17:30 IST

Significant Arrest in Jharkhand

Ranchi, July 29 - The Director General of Police (DGP) of Jharkhand, Tadasha Mishra, announced on Wednesday that Misir Besra, a member of the Politburo of the banned CPI (Maoist), has been apprehended in the Dhanbad district. Besra was wanted in 175 cases and had a bounty of over ₹2.20 crores on his head. The DGP stated that with the capture of some of the country's most wanted Maoists, the state is nearing the eradication of Naxalism.

The 65-year-old Besra was arrested on Tuesday evening during 'Operation Daura Pahad' in the Maniyadih area of the Barwadih police station in Dhanbad. A resident of Madanadiha village in Giridih district, he was noted as the only active top-level Politburo member of the banned CPI (Maoist).

According to police officials, a total reward of ₹2.20 crores was announced by the governments of Jharkhand and Odisha for this senior Maoist. He was wanted in 175 cases registered in Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal.

During the operation, two other Maoists were also captured: Mehnat, alias Mochhu, who had a bounty of ₹15 lakhs, and Gaurav. The three individuals are wanted in a combined total of 320 criminal cases.

Known by the aliases Sagar Da and Bhaskar Da, Besra joined the banned organization in 1980 and became a member of its central committee in 2003. An additional officer revealed that Besra played a crucial role in expanding the Maoist network in Jharkhand and neighboring states.

He was also instrumental in forming armed squads within the state. Narendra Singh, Inspector General of Police (Operations), stated that the three arrested Maoists were involved in several major attacks, including the 2005 jailbreak in Jehanabad, Bihar, multiple bank robberies, large-scale arms and ammunition thefts, and several IED explosions.

Singh noted, “They were responsible for the deaths of over 100 security personnel.” According to police reports, the trio was attempting to reactivate Naxal activities in the Parasnath area. Singh added, “Security forces will conduct extensive searches throughout the region to capture the remaining 15-20 Maoists believed to be active in Jharkhand, including three with cash rewards on their heads.”

Following the arrest of Misir Besra, his brother Devalal Besra stated that the family learned of his capture around 10 to 11 PM on Tuesday from the border area between Dhanbad and Giridih.

He mentioned, “He hasn’t returned home since 1986-87. We have a nephew and a niece, but she has passed away. We have appealed to him several times to return to the mainstream.”

These arrests occurred just hours after 16 Naxalites surrendered to the Jharkhand police, including six who had a total bounty of ₹39 lakhs. Among those who surrendered was Santosh Mahato, alias Vasudev Da, who had a reward of ₹15 lakhs and was wanted in 128 cases.