Six cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), including a ‘self-styled commander’ were arrested and explosives seized from their possession in Baripokhari village under Tonto Police Station limits in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand on February 25, reports The Hindu. Superintendent of Police (SP), Ashutosh Shekhar received information that some Maoists were on their way to deliver explosives to their ‘commander’. Based on the information, the SP said a team was constituted to initiate action and arrest them. Accordingly, the team launched a massive checking drive after cordoning off a road approaching Baripokhari village and arrested one Boj Hembram alias Kishun Hembram and seized a detonator and gelatine. On the lead provided by Boj during interrogation, Police arrested three other ultras with detonators and gelatine sticks from Tonto Police Station limits. The arrested Maoists confessed that they were active members of Maoist group and carrying the explosives for delivery on the instruction of their ‘commander’.
The team also conducted raid in Rengrahatu village in West Singhbhum District on February 24, and arrested the ‘commander’ of Maoist militia group Damu Koda alias Judu Koda (35) and Birsing alias Chota Koda (35). The duo conceded that they were involved in setting vehicles a fire engaged in road construction work in Chiruiekir village on February 12. Besides, they were also a part of a group engaged in an encounter that occurred in Tumhaka Forest in January, Kochavad Forest near Rengrahatu village in December last year and Garuwang Forest near Rengrahatu in 2021.