Maoist commander arrested in Jharkhand

A Maoist zonal commander and his associate have been arrested and a cache of explosives recovered from them in Jharkhand, police said.

Umesh Yadav of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), was arrested with Nawal in Andag village of Palamau district, 170 km from Ranchi, police said.

Yadav was wanted for killing policemen and other crimes.

Police seized a Sten gun, 52 detonators, 225 live cartridges, 2,000 batteries and 34 gas cylinders. Maoist guerrillas are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state.