In a significant blow to the Maoists, Kanchan Da alias Arun Kumar Bhattacharya who is a senior leader was arrested by Assam police in Cacher district on Sunday (March 6).
Kanchan, a die-hard Maoist anarchist was wanted in several cases across India and carried a reward of 3 crores for his information which is one of the largest bounties.
What is significant is that Kanchan Da is a member of the Central Organising Committee of CPI (Maoist), which is a plenary group responsible for organising Naxal terrorism in several states in India.
Harmit Singh, Guwahati police commissioner said Kanchan Da was trying to set up the Maoist base in Assam and was hiding in Patimara tea garden in Cachar district of southern Assam because the CPM (Maoist) leadership assigned him to set up bases in the North East, especially in Assam.
The capture of this individual is an important achievement and step towards finding out their future plans of terror and big win security agencies fighting for the sovereignty and integrity of the country, Singh added.
Meanwhile, the police also arrested Akash Orang alias Kajol a member of All Assam Organising Committee of CPI (Maoist) who was assisting Kanchan
According to the police, nearly 200 cases of anti-national activity, extortion, and illegal weapons are registered against Kanchan Da across India.
When he was arrested, the police team seized a laptop, some electronic devices, huge numbers of Maoist literature and Rupees 3 lakh 60 thousand cash from the possession of the Naxal leader.
Police commissioner Singh said that the case would now be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) because the arrest of the top Maoist terrorist has national security implications and a team of NIA officers will lead the interrogation.
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