A Giridih police team along with the CRPF on Saturday night headed by additional Superintendent of Police (Operation) Deepak Kumar, SDPO sadar Manish Toppo and CRPF 2nd in command Anil Sharma and officer in charge Bengabad Manoj Kumar following a tip off arrested a hardcore Naxal carrying a reward of Rs5 lakh on his head. The CPI (Maoists) Zonal commander has been identified as Ramesh Mandal from a forest area of Motilenda under the Bengabad police station, said Sadar SDPO Manish Toppo.
He said the police have recovered two pipe bombs, five detonators, one mobile set and cash Rs5,000 from the spot. SP Akhlesh V Varier said the arrested accused who had created a reign of terror in Giridih, Hazaribagh and Bokaro was named as the main accused in the attack on home guard camp at Chilkari and jail break in Giridih. Beside the rebel was wanted in connection with the killing of CPI(Ml) MlA of Bagodar Mahendra Singh and son of Ex Chief minister Babu lal Marandi and was also wanted in several Naxal-related cases, including killings and realisation of levies in Giridih and other districts.
Giving details of the police raids conducted late night on Saturday, the SP said that on getting information that Ramesh Mandal was holding a meeting in Motilenda forest, a massive combing operation was immediately launched. Giridih Sadar SDPO, Manish Toppo said the extremists, who got the information about the arrival of police left the place in a huff. Though the police gave a hot chase and arrested him.