Police arrest Maoist commander in Gaya, recover arms and ammunition

Gaya Police have arrested a Maoist commander and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from him during a combing operation.

Acting on the tip-off, police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel conducted a combing operation in Gaya District.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Gaya, Garima Malik, said, the police had recovered an AK-56 rifle, 102 live cartridges and other items from the arrested Maoist commander.

"During the combing operation in the nearby areas we arrested the Maoist Communist Centre (MMC) zonal commander, Mahinder Bhokta, who was actively associated with the organisation in 2008 and now he supports them and work as an ideological guide," said Malik.

Maoists, also known as 'Naxals' in India, seek the violent overthrow of the Indian state and have fought authorities for decades, particularly in rural areas of central and eastern India where they enjoy some support.

The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of peasants and landless labourers. They routinely call strikes, attack government property and target politicians and police.