Maoist Arrest – Top CPI (Maoist) Leader Misir Besra Held in Major Security Operation
Maoist Arrest –Security forces have achieved a major success in their ongoing campaign against Left-wing extremism with the arrest of senior CPI (Maoist) leader Misir Besra, one of India’s most wanted insurgents. Carrying a reward of Rs 1 crore, Besra was taken into custody along with two senior associates during a coordinated operation conducted in Jharkhand, marking a significant development in efforts to weaken the Maoist network in the region.
Joint operation based on intelligence inputs
According to officials, the arrests were made late Tuesday night during a carefully planned operation in the border area connecting Dhanbad and Giridih districts. The mission involved personnel from the Jharkhand Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the elite CoBRA unit. Authorities said the operation was launched after receiving credible intelligence about Besra’s movements and suspected location.
Alongside Besra, security personnel arrested Mehnat, also known as Mochhu and Vibhishan Murmu, and Gaurav, alias Saurabh. Both are Regional Committee members of the CPI (Maoist) and each carried a government reward of Rs 15 lakh. Officials also detained two other individuals during the raid, and they are currently being questioned to determine whether they had any operational or logistical links with the banned organization.
Surrender of cadres helped investigators
The arrests followed the surrender of 16 Maoist members before authorities in Ranchi earlier the same day. Among those who gave up arms was Devan Murmu, also known as Shanicharva, who had reportedly served as a close security aide to Misir Besra.
Investigators believe information shared during the surrender played an important role in tracing Besra’s recent activities. Using those inputs, security agencies designed the operation, monitored possible escape routes, and eventually captured the senior Maoist leader without allowing him to evade arrest.
Long criminal record across multiple states
Misir Besra, who has also operated under aliases including Bhaskar, Sunirmal and Sagar, belongs to the Pirtand region of Giridih district in Jharkhand. He entered the Maoist movement nearly four decades ago and eventually became a Politburo member, placing him among the highest-ranking leaders in the CPI (Maoist).
Authorities say more than 150 criminal cases have been registered against him across Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. These cases include allegations related to murder, attacks on security forces, improvised explosive device (IED) explosions, extortion, and illegal collection of levy from contractors and businesses.
Previous escape kept him on the most wanted list
Besra had previously been arrested by Khunti Police in 2007. However, he escaped from police custody in 2009 after Maoist cadres attacked the Lakhisarai court complex in Bihar, enabling his escape. Since then, security agencies across several states had continued efforts to locate and apprehend him, making him one of the country’s longest-serving fugitives linked to the Maoist insurgency.
Officials consider his arrest a major setback for the organization’s leadership, particularly as the group has recently witnessed a series of encounters, arrests and voluntary surrenders that have weakened its operational structure in several regions.
Investigation continues after the arrests
Security agencies have shifted Besra and his associates to an undisclosed location for detailed questioning. Investigators are expected to examine the group’s organizational structure, active network, weapons storage locations, financial channels, operational planning and communication links.
Officials believe the interrogation could provide valuable intelligence for future operations aimed at dismantling the remaining Maoist infrastructure and preventing further insurgent activities in affected states.