51 top Maoist leaders held in Bihar

Altogether 51 leaders and senior members of the proscribed CPI-Maoist have been arrested by Bihar police up to November this year, official sources said.

These 51 included seven zonal commanders, 10 sub-zonal commanders and 13 area commanders.

The police also seized 17,995 kg explosive, 1.96 lakh detonators, 83 landmines and several bombs besides Rs 35.25 lakh in cash during operations against the Maoists, the sources said.

Besides, the securitymen recovered 130 weapons, 12 of them looted from policemen, and over 8200 different kinds of ammunition from them.

They said altogether 166 Naxal related incidents occurred in Bihar up to November and the police were engaged in encounters by Maoists at 21 places. Eight Maoist bunkers were also destroyed.

Altogether 14 Maoists surrendered before the security personnel during the encounter.

Naxalites, however, also succeeded in blasting 15 government buildings including police posts, community centres, schools and block offices this year, the sources said.