Top Maoist Misir Besra, carrying ₹1 crore-plus bounty, arrested in Jharkhand
Senior Maoist leader Misir Besra, who carried a bounty of over ₹1 crore, was arrested in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district. The arrest follows a series of surrenders by other Maoist rebels in the region.
Why it matters
This represents a significant tactical victory for security forces in their long-standing counter-insurgency operations against Naxalite groups in India.
“Banned CPI (Maoist) politburo member Misir Besra, who was carrying a bounty of more than ₹1 crore on his head and wanted in 141 cases, was arrested from Jharkhand 's Dhanbad district,” police said.
“The 65-year-old red rebel, a resident of Madnadih in Giridih district, was apprehended from Maniadih area under the Barwadda Police Station limits on Tuesday evening (July 28, 2026),” a senior officer said.
“Besides Besra, two other Maoists, including one carrying a ₹15 lakh reward on his head, were arrested during the operation,” he said.
“Besra, also known as Sagar Da and Bhaskar Da, had been associated with the banned outfit since 1980 and became a member of its central committee in 2003,” the officer said.
“According to police records, he played a key role in expanding the Maoist network in Jharkhand and neighbouring States. Besra had also set up armed squads in Jharkhand,” the officer said.
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