PLFI 'chief commander' with Rs 10 lakh bounty arrested in Jharkhand

RANCHI: The Jharkhand Police has arrested the ‘chief commander’ of the banned People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a splinter group of the Maoists, who carried a bounty of Rs 10 lakh, a senior official said on Friday.The accused, identified as Amrit Horo (34), alias Mecho, alias Surya, was arrested on Thursday during a raid in the Mahugaon forest area under Lapung police station limits in Ranchi district. Police said the operation was launched following a tip-off that Horo and some of his associates had assembled in the forest area to execute a crime."Based on information, a special squad comprising the Quick Response Team (QRT) and other police personnel conducted a raid, cordoned off the area and arrested Horo. At least 50 criminal cases are pending against him in several districts, including Chaibasa, Khunti, Gumla and Ranchi," Ranchi SSP Rakesh Ranjan said.An automatic pistol, four cartridges, three mobile phones and a pamphlet linked to the banned outfit were recovered from his possession, officials said.Police said that after the arrest of Dinesh Gope and the killing of Martin Kerketta in an encounter, Horo had taken over the leadership of the outfit.Describing the arrest as a major success, Ranjan said Horo’s arrest was the “final nail in the coffin” for the PLFI.The SSP added, police are interrogating him to arrest his other associates.A total of 27 Maoists, including several senior commanders, had surrendered before the police in Ranchi on May 21.Among the surrendered Maoists, seven were 'sub-zonal commanders', including Sagen Aangariya alias Dokol (50), wanted in 123 cases; Gadi Munda alias Gulshan (34), wanted in 48 cases, and Nagendra Munda alias Prabhant Munda (50), who was wanted in 38 criminal cases.Six 'area commanders' also laid down arms. Of the seven, five carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh each.On May 23, two Naxals, including Shiva Narayan Singh alias Shiva, a 'sub-zonal commander' of the banned outfit Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP), were arrested in Latehar district.(With PTI inputs)