Eight maoists held in Bihar

Eight maoists, including a self-styled area commander, were arrested in Bihar's East Champaran district.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided places under Patahi, Sarpa, Chiraiya, Kesaria and Ghorasahan police stations and arrested Lal Babu Yadav alias Shastri alias Doctorji, a self-styled area commander of the proscribed CPI (Maoist), superintendent of police Umesh Kumar said.

Among others arrested were hardcore Maoists Mukesh Ram alias Praveen, Naresh Ram, Chandrakishore Rai, Jagannath Sah, Sahai Sah, Md Ishrail and Musafir Ram, the SP said.A country-made pistol, two cartridges, Rs40,000 in cash, a cell phone and a diary were seized from them, he said.

They were wanted in connection with several cases, including one related to an explosion at Madhuban five years ago, he added.