Jharkhand police arrest India’s only active CPI (Maoist) politburo member Misir Besra
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Ranchi, July 29: In a major breakthrough against Left-Wing Extremism, Jharkhand Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, July 29: In a major breakthrough against Left-Wing Extremism, Jharkhand Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of Misir Besra, alias Sagar, Bhaskar and Surnimal, described by the police as India’s only active Politburo Member (PBM) of the banned CPI (Maoist).
According to DGP Tadasha Mishra, Misir Besra, who carried a combined bounty of ₹2.20 crore—₹1 crore announced by the Jharkhand government and ₹1.20 crore by the Odisha government—was arrested during Operation Daura Pahar, a joint anti-Naxal operation carried out by the Jharkhand Police and central security forces.
Operation Daura Pahar leads to high-profile arrests
Police said the operation was conducted on July 28 in the forest area under Barwadda Police Station in Dhanbad district by personnel from the Dhanbad and Giridih district police, assisted by the 209 CoBRA Battalion.
Along with Misir Besra, police arrested two other senior CPI (Maoist) leaders:
- Mehnat alias Mochhu alias Vibhishan, Regional Committee Member (RCM), carrying a bounty of ₹15 lakh.
- Gaurav alias Birendra Hansda alias Saurabh, Area Committee Member (ACM).
Two other associates were also taken into custody during the operation, according to the police.
AK-47 rifles, ammunition recovered
Police said the joint team recovered the following from the arrested Maoist leaders:
- Three AK-47 rifles
- Eight magazines
- 288 rounds of ammunition
The recovered weapons and ammunition have been seized for further investigation.
Series of operations weakens Maoist network
Jharkhand Police said the arrests are part of sustained joint operations against the CPI (Maoist) under the leadership of the Director General and Inspector General of Police, Jharkhand.
According to police, 27 Maoist cadres surrendered before the Police Headquarters on May 21, 2026, under the state’s surrender and rehabilitation policy. The group included seven Special Zonal Committee Members (SZCMs), seven Area Committee Members (ACMs) and 13 squad members, who also deposited 18 firearms and 2,987 rounds of ammunition.
Police also highlighted the arrests of Ravindra Ganjhu, a Regional Committee Member carrying a ₹20 lakh bounty, on July 13, and Ajay Mahto alias Tiger, a Sub-Zonal Area Commander carrying a ₹25 lakh bounty, on July 17. In addition, Area Committee Member Babita alias Anita Kirku surrendered before the authorities.
On July 28, another 16 Maoist cadres, including one Regional Committee Member, three Zonal Committee Members, three Special Zonal Committee Members, six Area Committee Members and three squad members, surrendered before the Police Headquarters along with 11 firearms and 1,562 rounds of ammunition, police said.
Police appeal to remaining Maoists
Jharkhand Police described Misir Besra’s arrest as a significant blow to the CPI (Maoist)’s leadership and organisational structure in the state.
The police appealed to the remaining Maoist cadres to renounce violence, surrender before the authorities and take advantage of the Jharkhand government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy.
The police statement described the latest arrests as a major step towards dismantling the CPI (Maoist) network in Jharkhand. The investigation into the case is continuing.
