Ranchi: Police today arrested most wanted CPI (Maoist) leader Mukhlal Mahato, accused of over 60 cases, after a hot chase from Nayakocha village of Silli police station area near Jumla.
They confiscated several sophisticated arms from the possession of the rebel leader.
Jharkhand DGP Rajeev Kumar said Mahato was arrested from the forest close to Nayakocha where he was hiding after an encounter with the joint anti-Naxalite combing team of state police and CRPF.
�The police and paramilitary jawans were carrying out Operation Swarnarekha in the area after getting a tip-off about a squad of 20-25 armed Naxalites holding meeting in Jumla.
When cops reached the place, the Naxalites opened fire on them. In retaliation, the combing team returned fire. The Naxalites soon dispersed and ran towards the forest. During the pursuit, Mukhlal Mahato was arrested by the combing team officers,� said the DGP.
The DGP said the arrested Naxalite was a resident of Jamnijara Jhumra village under Mahuatand police station area of Bokaro. Mahato worked as a member of the North Chhotanagpur zonal committee of CPI (Maoist) and was a member of the technical team of the rebel organization.
He was active in Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Giridih and Ranchi.
Cops seized two regular rifles, 110 cartridges, 40 gelatin sticks, four detonators, one mobile phone, 11 bullets, Naxalite literature and empty cartridges of several weapons including AK 47. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from Kasmar police station area on the information of the Naxalite leader, cops said.
The DGP said Mahato was wanted in several cases including the case of blowing up police vehicle in Lugu valley of Gomia police station area, killing several chowkidars and villagers in Mahuatand and other villages, loot and extortion in the name of Naxalite organization.