Major crackdown by Giridih Police: Naxalite Ajay Mahto, alias ‘Tiger’—carrying a reward of ₹25 lakh—arrested.
Giridih: Jharkhand Police has achieved a major success in an anti-Naxal operation. Giridih Police has arrested Ajay Mahto—also known as ‘Tiger’ or ‘Basudev’—a Naxalite carrying a reward of ₹25 lakh, who was associated with the banned CPI (Maoist) organization. According to the police, the operation was carried out late Thursday night in the Harladih area. Ajay Mahto is reported to be a member of the banned organization’s Special Area Committee (SAC) and had long posed a challenge to security agencies.
Police officials stated that a special operation was launched in the area based on a tip-off. During this operation, security forces cordoned off the Harladih area and apprehended Ajay Mahto. Two other Naxalites were also arrested alongside him. Police claim to have recovered weapons and a large quantity of ammunition from them at the time of the arrest.
According to officials, Ajay Mahto was among the top cadres of the CPI (Maoist) and played a crucial role in managing the organization’s activities in the region. A reward of ₹25 lakh had been announced for his capture, and security agencies had been searching for him for a long time. The police believe that his arrest deals a significant blow to the Maoist network in Jharkhand.
It is reported that Ajay Mahto was a close associate of the notorious Naxal leader Misir Besra. Security agencies consider Misir Besra to be one of the key strategists of the Maoist organization in Jharkhand. For a long time, Ajay Mahto had been carrying out organizational activities under Besra’s instructions.
Police sources indicate that Ajay Mahto is accused of involvement in several serious Naxal-related cases. These include attacks on security forces, arms supply, organizational expansion, and other criminal activities. However, the police have stated that detailed information regarding all cases registered against him will be shared once the investigation is complete.
Following the arrest, police and security agencies are interrogating Ajay Mahto. Investigative agencies are trying to determine the areas where the Maoist organization is currently active, gather details about other members working for the group, and understand how the arms supply network was being operated.
Security officials believe that the arrest of a high-ranking commander could yield crucial information regarding the Naxal organization’s strategies and activities. Based on the interrogation, further action could be taken against other Naxals in the coming days.
Security forces are conducting continuous operations in the Naxal-affected regions of Jharkhand. These joint operations by the state police and central security forces aim to curb the activities of Naxal organizations and weaken their networks. In recent years, the organization has suffered setbacks due to the arrests of several top Naxal leaders and active members.
This action by the Giridih police is considered a significant part of this ongoing campaign. Police officials state that the drive against Naxalism will continue, and prompt action will be taken on any intelligence received by the security forces.
According to officials, the interrogation of the three arrested Naxals is expected to reveal vital information. The recovered weapons and documents are also being examined to determine which incidents involved these items and to identify ways to reach other members of the organization.
This arrest is also being hailed as a major achievement at the local level. Given the long-standing Maoist activity in the area, the arrest of Ajay Mahto is viewed as significant for the region’s security. The police affirm that operations to maintain peace and security in the area will continue unabated.
Currently, security agencies are interrogating the arrested Naxals, and the process for further legal action is underway. It is anticipated that information obtained from Ajay Mahto could lead to larger operations against the Naxal organization in the near future.
