One day after Maoist top gun Sylvester was gunned down in Gumla, Chatra police nabbed a hardcore Maoist Puranchand Yadav on Sunday.
Yadav, better known as Pandu, was the deputy platoon commander in the team of Kauleshwari zone regional commander Indal Bhokta of CPI (M) and is wanted for his involvement in several extremist activities.
Acting on an anonymous tip-off regarding Pandu’s squad wandering in areas under Hunterganj police station on Saturday, Chatra SP SK Jha led a search operation with a team of district police forces and CRPF 190 battalion on the same night for apprehending the extremists.
In the forests near Herenchatwa, the search party came across Pandu who tried to evade them, but was caught.
Pandu disclosed that he was operating in the Hunterganj police station area on orders from Indal Bhokta to re-establish CPI (M) in Chatra region and exact levies from businessmen and contractors. He was also instructed to wipe out TSPC from the area.
“Maoists are attempting the best to reclaim the lost grounds after many of them were arrested or killed,” Chatra SP said.
“To make it done, they are now acting out in frustration; this was an instance,” he added.
After interrogating the detained extremists, Chatra police has unearthed IEDs planted in the area. Three country-made rifles, a rifle with three magazines, 17
live cartridges, 16 detonators, two pouches, a pithoo and some medicines have also been recovered.We expect a few other Maoists will soon be trapped, SK Jha SP said.