₹25 Lakh Rewarded Maoist Commander Ajay Mahto Arrested in Joint Anti-Naxal Operation

 

Giridih SP Dr. Bimal Kumar addresses a press conference after the arrest of ₹25 lakh reward Maoist commander Ajay Mahto

Deepak Mishra, Jharkhand Spirit : In a major breakthrough against Left Wing Extremism, Giridih Police and the CRPF's CoBRA 209 Battalion have arrested Ajay Mahto alias Mochu alias Tiger, a top Maoist commander carrying a reward of ₹25 lakh, during a joint anti-Naxal operation in the Parasnath zone. Giridih Superintendent of Police Dr. Bimal Kumar disclosed the details at a press conference held on Saturday evening.

According to the SP, the operation was launched following specific intelligence received on July 17 about the movement of Maoists in the forested areas under Harladih OP in Khukhra police station limits. Acting on the input, Giridih Police and CoBRA 209 Battalion formulated a special operation under the guidance of senior police and CRPF officers. Security forces surrounded the dense forest near Pipradih (Khawas Tola) from all sides and successfully apprehended Ajay Mahto while he was attempting to escape.

Ajay Mahto, a resident of Nawadih village under Pirtand police station, is a Special Area Committee (SAC) member of the banned CPI (Maoist). He has been active in Maoist activities since around 2005 and gradually rose through the ranks, taking responsibility for extortion, strengthening the organisation, stockpiling arms and explosives, and executing major attacks in the Parasnath, Saranda and other forest zones.

Police said the arrested Maoist is wanted in more than 240 criminal cases registered across several districts of Jharkhand, including 68 cases in Giridih. His criminal record includes murders of civilians and security personnel, IED blasts, attacks on police forces, destruction of government property, extortion, and sabotage of infrastructure. He is alleged to have played a key role in several deadly Maoist incidents over the past two decades.

Dr. Bimal Kumar described the arrest as a historic milestone in the campaign to make Giridih and the Parasnath region free from Maoist influence. He said the arrest has dealt a severe blow to the Maoist network operating in Jharkhand and reflects the sustained success of anti-Naxal operations in the district. He also noted that several Maoists had surrendered in recent years and appealed to remaining members of the banned outfit to give up violence and avail themselves of the Jharkhand government's surrender and rehabilitation policy, "Nayi Disha – Ek Nayi Pahal."

Who is Ajay Mahto?

Ajay Mahto, a resident of Nawadih village in Giridih district, is a Special Area Committee (SAC) member of the banned CPI (Maoist). Police said he had been active in Maoist activities since around 2005 and gradually became one of the organisation's top commanders. He allegedly supervised extortion operations, recruitment, movement of arms and explosives, and planned several attacks on security forces in Jharkhand's forest regions.

More Than 240 Criminal Cases

Police records show that Ajay Mahto is wanted in over 240 criminal cases registered across multiple districts of Jharkhand, including 68 cases in Giridih. The cases include murders, IED blasts, attacks on police and CRPF personnel, destruction of public property, extortion and other Maoist-related offences. Several deadly attacks on civilians and security personnel over the past two decades have been attributed to him.

Major Blow to Maoist Network in Jharkhand

Calling the arrest a historic achievement, SP Dr. Bimal Kumar said it marks another significant step towards making Giridih and the Parasnath region free from Maoist influence. He said the arrest has severely weakened the Maoist network in Jharkhand and reflects the success of sustained intelligence-driven anti-Naxal operations.

The SP also appealed to remaining Maoist cadres to surrender under the Jharkhand Government's rehabilitation policy, "Nayi Disha – Ek Nayi Pahal," and return to the mainstream.

Why This Arrest Matters

The arrest of Ajay Mahto is considered one of the most significant anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand this year. As a senior Maoist commander carrying a reward of ₹25 lakh, his capture is expected to weaken the operational capabilities of the banned CPI (Maoist) in the Parasnath region and boost ongoing security operations across Giridih district.