Patna, March 3: The NDA-II government has come down heavily on the Maoists operating in the state. While the outfit lost six squad members in last week’s encounter with Banka police, about 50 top-ranking leaders, including sub-zonal and area commanders, have been arrested from other Maoist-affected districts in the past three months.

The Patna police arrested an armed squad member of the outfit, Aundhiya Ravidas, from Dighwa village under Masaurhi sub-division on Wednesday. The police said Ravidas was wanted in six cases, including an attack on the police and killing of three persons in Masaurhi area.

Ravidas was also facing charges under different sections of the Explosive and Substances Act, a police officer posted at Masaurhi police station said. “We were keeping a close surveillance on Ravidas’s movement for the past few weeks. Finally, he fell in the police net on Wednesday,” the officer said.

Two days earlier, the Nalanda police arrested Arvindji, a self-proclaimed sub-zonal commander of Rajgir region, and Naga Paswan alias Srikantji, a regional member of Magadh zone, from Islampur police station area. Another activist, identified as Narsing Yadav, was also taken into custody.

Two .303 bore police rifles, one self-loading rifle (SLR), 15 rounds of ammunition and Naxalite literature were seized during the operation. “It was an important catch for the police as they were wanted in several operations carried out in Nalanda and its adjoining areas,” said Vineet Vinayak, the deputy inspector-general, central range.

The Rohtas police arrested another Maoist, Yogendra Oraon, from Adhaura police station area on Tuesday evening. A cellphone and a two-wheeler were recovered from his possession. However, no firearm was seized from Oraon, who was evading arrest in several cases, said an officer posted in Rohtas.

On February 26, six armed rebels were gunned down by the personnel of Special Task Force and Banka district police at Manjhidih village under Katoria police station area. Two SLRs, two carbines and two police rifles were recovered from the encounter site.

The state police headquarters was so overwhelmed with the success that it recommended out-of-turn promotion for Amit Kumar Jain, the deputy inspector-general of police, Bhagalpur range, who was assigned to monitor the operation. The police headquarters has also announced to recommend his name for gallantry awards.

Major feat

March 2: Armed squad member Aundhiya Ravidas arrested from Dighwa village under Masaurhi sub-division in Patna

March 1: Yogendra Oraon nabbed from Adhaura police station area in Rohtas

February 28: Self-proclaimed sub-zonal commander Arvindji and Naga Paswan alias Srikantji, a regional member of Magadh zone, arrested from Islampur police station area in Nalanda

February 26: Six armed guerrillas gunned down by STF and Banka police personnel at Manjhidih village under Katoria police station area in Banka