Naxal 'janmilitia commander' held in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada

A Naxal "commander" was arrested during a joint search operation by security forces in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, police said Monday.

Deva Muchaki was apprehended on Sunday from Aalnaar village under Kirandul police station area when a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and local police was on a search operation, an official said.

"Muchaki is a janmilitia commander and has been with the Communist Party of India (Maoist) for a decade. He was wanted for an attack in 2012 on a Central Industrial Security Force team in Kirandul in which six security personnel and a civilian were killed," he said.

He was part of a Naxal squad which set ablaze nine vehicles and machinery engaged in construction activity at the NMDC's Bailadila iron ore mine on November 24 last year, the official added.