Kishenji's close aide, Maoist arrested in Ranchi

RANCHI: A Maoist, said to be a close aide of slain rebel leader Kishenji, has been arrested, police said today.

On a tip off, Ramdas alias Nandu was arrested from the Ranchi railway station when he was heading towards Lohardaga.

Ramdas, who hails from Bihar's Banka district, is a member of Bihar-Jharkhand-Odisha-Chhatisgarh regional committee and was close to Kishenji since 2008, they said.

The police expect vital information on Maoist activities from him.

Kishenji was killed in an encounter during joint operations by the CRPF, CoBRA personnel and police in Burisole jungle in West Midnapore district in West Bengal on November 24 last year.

A woman Maoist leader, Suchitra Mahato, who was with Kishenji escaped. She surrendered before West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat on March nine.