Naxal Area Commander Arrested in Gaya

Naxal Area Commander Arrested in Gaya

Gaya: April 8, 2007

In a combing operation jointly undertaken by the Central Reserve Protection Force (CRPF) and a Special Task Force (STF) to flush out Maoist guerillas from their hideouts, officials in Gaya, on Sunday, caught one Hridaya Ravi Das, a Maoist area commander wanted in several attacks on police stations, following an encounter at Hasanpur village.

As reported, the leftist extremists opened fire on the police team engaged in searching for Maoists hiding in Hasanpur village.

In retaliation, the joint force of the CRPF and STF also opened fire forcing the extremists to retreat. The police, however, managed to chase Das and arrested him after minor scuffle.

While no one was said to be hurt in the incident, the police recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition including three rifles earlier looted from a police station, an SLR, a country-made rifle, and over 300 live cartridges of various calibers.

The police also recovered Naxal literature, army fatigue, and several landmine devices, officials said.

Das, a native of Gaya, has admitted of his involvement in a number of attacks on police stations and police outposts located in the remote areas in the district.

Meanwhile, a red alert has been issued in the state following the Maoist attack on Howrah-Gaya passenger in Jamui district in which two railway police jawans were killed.

Security has also been heightened in all trains under Danapur division of the East-Central Railways, security commissioner Rajendra Babu said.

Patnadaily