Maoist leader arrested in Jharkhand

A Maoist leader, who was a part of a firing squad in the state, has been arrested in Jharkhand's Giridih district, a senior police officer said here Tuesday.

Three US-made pistols and nine bullets were recovered from his possession, SP Surendra Jha said.

"Charkha Hembram, a member of a Maoist firing squad, has been active in the state for over 15 years. He was arrested Monday night at Balothan in Pirtand police station area," he told reporters here.

Acting on a tip-off about Hembram's presence at Balothan, a police team, headed by Assistant Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar, raided the village Monday night and arrested him, the SP said.

Hembram was wanted in eight cases, including the killing of four security personnel, firing on Pirtand police station and an encounter with the police on the Grand Trunk road, he added.