Patna, Feb. 21: Police have succeeded in averting a Jehanabad jailbreak rerun at the Sasaram divisional prison to free two Maoist leaders.

Acting on a tip-off that some Naxalites had gathered at a rebel’s house in Belhar, a team of Rohtas police last week raided the village on the foothills of Kaimur. Though most of the rebels managed to escape, Harinarayan Yadav, alias Tandal Yadav, whose house was used by the rebels as shelter, was arrested.

Rohtas superintendent of police Manu Maharaj said Tandal revealed the Maoists’ plan to free Nirala Yadav and Phule Prasad from the jail in Sasaram, around 175km southwest of Patna. The Maoists had also planned to attack the Darigaon police picket and blow up tracks on the Mughalsarai-Gaya section of East Central Railway.

In November 2005, over 200 Maoists had attacked the Jehanabad jail to free 375 prisoners, including top Naxalite Ajay Kanu.