Dhanbad, Jul 29: In a major breakthrough for security forces, top CPI (Maoist) leader Misir Besra, who carried a reward of ₹1 crore, was arrested from Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Tuesday evening. Besra, one of the country's most wanted Maoist commanders, was apprehended during a special operation near the Giridih-Dhanbad border, along with two Maoist associates, Mochhu and Saurabh alias Gaurav, and two villagers.

A native of Harladih village in Giridih district, Besra was wanted in numerous Maoist-related cases across Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. Security agencies said he had remained on the 'most wanted' list for several years and was facing more than 150 criminal cases, including murder, attacks on security personnel, extortion, and improvised explosive device (IED) blasts. The Central Government and multiple state governments had jointly announced a reward of ₹1 crore for information leading to his capture.

Officials described Besra as one of the key strategists of the banned CPI (Maoist), with significant influence over Maoist operations in the Kolhan, Saranda, and Parasnath regions. He was believed to be responsible for planning insurgent activities and coordinating the Maoist network across multiple states, making him one of the organisation's most influential leaders.

According to security agencies, Besra's arrest followed months of sustained intelligence gathering and intensified anti-Maoist operations. His support network had already weakened considerably after several of his close associates either surrendered or were arrested in recent months, creating an opportunity for security forces to launch the successful operation.

Security agencies believe that Besra's arrest will prove to be a major setback for Maoist operations in Jharkhand and across eastern India. Investigators expect his interrogation to yield crucial intelligence on the outfit's top leadership, arms supply routes, extortion networks, safe houses, communication channels, and the whereabouts of other active Maoist cadres.

The two other arrested Maoists, Mochhu and Saurabh alias Gaurav, have also been identified as active members of the banned organisation. Meanwhile, the role of the two villagers detained along with them is under investigation. Police are examining their alleged links with the Maoist network and the nature of any assistance they may have provided to the insurgents.

Earlier on Tuesday, in another significant success for security forces, 16 Maoists surrendered before the Jharkhand Police, including six cadres carrying a combined reward of ₹39 lakh. Among them was Santosh Mahto alias Basudev Da alias Dilip, who was wanted in 128 cases and carried a ₹15 lakh bounty. The surrendered group also included two sub-zonal committee members and two area committee functionaries, further weakening the Maoist organisation's operational structure.

Officials said the twin developments—the surrender of 16 Maoists and the arrest of Misir Besra within the same day—represent one of the biggest setbacks for the CPI (Maoist) in recent years. Security agencies believe the crackdown will significantly disrupt the organisation's command structure and operational capabilities in Jharkhand and neighbouring states while accelerating ongoing anti-Naxal operations across the region.