Naxal leader from Bihar arrested in Ahmedabad

Crime Branch officials said that Paswan, `zonal committee commander' in Motihari district of Bihar, was involved in more than 20 cases of serious offences such as dacoity, murders, extortion, landmine blasts, etc.

Paswan's arrest follows the recent arrest of fellow Naxal Rajesh Pawan in Gujarat's Navsari district.

Crime Branch Assistant Commissioner of Police Nirlipt Rai said Paswan had travelled extensively through Patan, Kutch, Vadodara and Ahmedabad, to set up operations in the state. He was working as a labour contractor at Radhanpur in Patan district, and had been in Gujarat for the last four months.

Acting on a tip-off that Paswan was travelling to Vadodara in a State Transport bus, Sub-Inspectors D S Gohil, S L Chaudhri and their team nabbed him at bus stand at Geeta Mandir here.

Seventy cadres were under Paswan's training in Motihari district, according to the police.

During the interrogation he revealed the name of his associate Rajan, police said, adding that Paswan also headed the arms unit of Naxals.

ACP Rai said that Paswan told the interrogators that the oppressive `Zamindari' system in Bihar prompted him join the ultras.