Misir Besra arrested: CPI (Maoist) politburo member wanted in 141 cases held in Jharkhand

A banned CPI (Maoist) politburo member Misir Besra, who was carrying a reward of over Rs 1 crore and was wanted in 141 cases, has been arrested from Jharkhand's Dhanbad district, police said on Tuesday, according to a PTI report.

The 65-year-old Maoist leader, also known as Sagar Da and Bhaskar Da, was apprehended from the Maniadih area under the Barwadda Police Station limits. Two other Maoists, including one carrying a bounty of Rs 15 lakh, were also arrested during the operation, a senior police officer told PTI.

Besra wanted in Maoist cases across three states

According to police records, Besra was involved in 141 cases linked to Maoist activities across Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. He was a central committee member of the banned organisation and carried a reward of more than Rs 1 crore on his arrest.


Police said Besra became associated with the CPI (Maoist) movement during his school years after being influenced by Maoist leaders Prashant Da and Kishan Da. He joined the banned outfit as a primary member in 1980.

Rise through Maoist ranks over decades

Police records stated that Besra was assigned press-related and operational responsibilities in Kolkata in 1990 by Kishan Da, when he held a sub-zonal level position.

After returning from Kolkata in 1992, Besra allegedly worked with a Santhali associate named Rajesh to expand the organisation's network in Ranchi and neighbouring districts.

Police said he formed the south Chotanagpur committee of the banned group in 1997 and helped establish the Jharkhand regional committee in 2000. The same year, he formed the first armed squad in the Bundu area of Ranchi district under the leadership of a cadre named Milan.

In 2003, Besra was appointed as a member of the central committee of the banned outfit.

Sixteen Maoists surrender before Jharkhand Police

The arrests came on the same day as 16 Maoists surrendered before Jharkhand Police, including six members carrying a combined reward of Rs 39 lakh, officials said.

Among those who surrendered was Santosh Mahto, also known as Basudev Da and Dilip, who was wanted in 128 cases and carried a reward of Rs 15 lakh.

Police said two sub-zonal committee members and two area committee functionaries were among those who surrendered. Besra has a daughter working in Delhi and an 18-year-old son, according to police.

(With inputs from PTI)