4 Maoists arrested in Palamau

 Security forces arrested four suspected Maoists, including a man carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head, in Jharkhand's Palamau district on Monday, police said.

Acting on a tip-off about the presence of members of a banned Maoist outfit, police launched an operation in the district and arrested the four suspects.

Among those arrested was Guddu Yadav, who had a bounty of Rs 2 lakh for information leading to his capture, according to the police.

All four are alleged to be associated with the banned Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), a splinter Maoist group that has been active in parts of Jharkhand and neighbouring areas.

Police said Yadav had previously been associated with the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) before becoming linked to the TPC.

The arrests are significant from a security perspective as the TPC and CPI-Maoist have maintained a presence in parts of Jharkhand, where security agencies have continued operations against armed left-wing extremist groups.

The police were expected to question the arrested men to determine their alleged roles in the organisation and gather information about the group's activities and network in the region.

The operation also reflects the continued reliance of Jharkhand security agencies on local intelligence to identify and apprehend members of banned extremist organisations.