Arrest of a top leader of People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a banned splinter Maoist outfit in Jharkhand, has come as a breather for Sundargarh district police and their Simdega counterparts in Jharkhand.
According to reports, the PLFI leader Hira Singh (30) was arrested from Kachhupani area near Baunsjhor of Simdega district along Odisha-Jharkhand border with his aide and bodyguard Simon Lohar. Singh was suffering from malaria and was reportedly on way to Rourkela for treatment. He was produced at a Simdgea court on Tuesday evening. Singh is the PLFI’s sub-zonal commander.
Jharkhand’s Simdega-based SP Aseem Bikrant Minz told this paper that Singh was one of the most wanted criminals in Jharkhand. Five mobile phones and `42,000 in cash were seized from his possession. The SP said so far police could establish 38 cases of heinous criminal acts including murder committed in Simdega district against him.
Sundargarh SP Sanjeev Arora said Singh would be brought on remand for further interrogation. Arora further said Singh’s arrest would weaken PLFI’s presence in Sundargarh side of the border.