Wanted CPI (Maoist) Area Commander nabbed

Varanasi, Mar 14 (UNI) A day after the arrest of a Naxalite and recovery of explosives, police in neighbouring Chandauli district early today nabbed a wanted CPI (Maoist) Area Commander to foil Naxal plans of reviving the extremist movement in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

CPI (Maoist) Area Commander of neighbouring Bihar Chote Lal was arrested following specific tip off from Chakia crossing early today, Police Superintendent of Chandauli district Pravin Kumar told UNI.

The arrested naxal carried a reward of Rs 20,000 announced on his head by the Bihar government and was wanted in connection with at least 30 criminal cases, including the murder of a Deputy Police Superintendent in Vikramganj (Bihar), Mr Kumar added.

A nine mm pistol has been seized from Chote Lal's possession.

Initial interrogation revealed the CPI (Maoist) faced with crippling operations in UP were planning something big to revive their movement in the Naxal infested Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonebhadra districts, the SP said.

The arrested naxal hailing from Rohtas (Bihar) was earlier part of the Peoples War Group (PWG), but following its merger with CPI (Maoist) he became an Area Commander of the latter in the Bhabhua and Rohtas districts of Bihar.

The arrested Area Commander was second to the sub-zonal commander of CPI (Maoist) in the twin Bihar districts and was planning to extend operations to UP.

The Chandauli police yesterday claimed to have busted a major naxal plot to disrupt UP elections with the arrest of a technical naxal hand Ghanshyam from Chakia police station area of the same district.

A large cache of explosives meant for triggering IED blasts were also seized from Ghanshyam.

UNI