Self-styled zonal commander of banned CPI (ML) arrested

Ranchi, Aug 9 (UNI) The Jharkhand police have arrested a self-styled zonal commander of the proscribed CPI (ML) who was involved in operations along Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh border areas.

Senior Superintendent of Police Maninder Singh Bhatia today told a press conference that the militant, identified as Srikant alias Dayanand, was arrested two days ago from a rented house at Laxmi Nagar under Sukhdev police station area here.

The news was not immediately released as police were interrogating the ultra, on whom the Jharkhand government had announced a cash award of Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 by the Chattisgarh governmnt, the SSP said.

Mr Bhatia termed the catch as ''major breakthrough'' as he was involved in several naxal strikes in the past few years.

UNI