Naxal leader involved in Chatra attack arrested in Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 3: A Naxal leader, who was allegedly involved in an attack on a police party in Jharkhand last December, has been arrested from Delhi where he had been in hiding for the last three months, police said today.

Chandeshwar Yadav alias Naigna, 26, was arrested by Delhi Police's Special Cell from Naale Wali Gali at Kapashera last night, Joint Commissioner of Special Cell Vivek Gogia said.

Chandeshwar was involved in an IED blast targeting a police jeep in Jharkhand's Chatra district on December 23, 2014 in which a constable was killed while another was injured, he added. Chandeshwar, a native of Diwaniya village in Bihar's Gaya district, was a sub-zonal commander of a banned Maoist outfit.

He was absconding after carrying out the IED blast at Chatra. He was employed as a skilled worker at a factory in Udyog Vihar Industrial Area in Delhi, a senior police officer said.

While in hiding here, Chandeshwar was in touch with the members of his outfit in Jharkhand but there is no information on whether he was part of any other attack in the state.

According to the officer, Chandeshwar earlier used to work as an auto driver but after a dispute and an attack on him by his uncle and his associates over a dispute, he came in contact with Maoists.

"In March 2013, he got in touch with his relative -- Kaushal Yadav, who was a senior Maoist commander and recruiter. Kaushal introduced him to other Maoists and took him to Barsoti village where their camp was being run.

"Chandeshwar was indoctrinated into Maoist philosophy and underwent training there. Soon, he grew in ranks and rose to become sub zonal commander of the outfit in Chatra district. His group used INSAS rifles and IED that they kept in tiffin boxes, which were used to ambush police party near Bhadrkali temple (Itkhori) in Chatra," he said.

The senior officer said Chandeshwar's position in the outfit became significant following the Chatra attack. Hotly pursued by security forces, Chandeshwar shifted to Delhi after Holi this year to avoid arrest.

"An award of Rs 5 lakh was declared by Jharkhand Police on his arrest," he added After his arrest, Chandeshwar was produced before a city court here which gave him on transit remand. He will be handed over to Jharkhand police tommorow.

PTI