Jharkhand's 'most-wanted' Maoist arrested in Kutch

A 'most-wanted' Maoist, who was involved in 2012 Bhandariya thana attack case in Jharkhand, was arrested in Mundra Port area in Kutch district today, police said today.
"A member of insurgent group Communist Party of India (Maoist) Devendra alias Vishalji Ambika Paswan, a resident of Bauliya village in Garhwah district of Jharkhand, was arrested today," Superintendent of Police, Kutch West, D N Patel said.
Paswan was nabbed from his brother's place in Mundra port area in a joint operation of Special Operation Group (SOG), local Crime Branch and Mundra police, said Patel.
The ultra, a sub-zonal commander in the Maoist group, was involved in the January 2012 land-mine blast case, which had claimed lives of 14 policemen in Bhandariya police station area of Garwah district of Jharkhand, Patel said.

During the attack, a group led by Paswan also looted weapons of police and used them in anti-national operations, the SP said, adding, later in February they again attacked a police patrolling party and looted arms.
Paswan had joined Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI) as a member in 2003 and when the MCCI merged with People's War Group (PWG), he was given the responsibility of area commander, police said.

He was first arrested in 2005 in connection with a murder case in Garhwah district in Jharkhand, but again started extortion activities when he was on bail in 2011, Patel said.

Paswan collected money from the extortion for two years while hiding in forest areas in Jharkhand, but realised that his seniors were using the money for their personal benefits, which he conveyed to his leaders on leaving the Maoist outfit, Patel said.
He was however threatened with dire consequences, following which he ran away and took shelter at his brother's place at Mundra port in Kutch, where he started working as a labourer, police added.
Paswan will be handed over to Jharkhand Police after primary interrogation, he said.