Maoist with Rs 2 lakh bounty arrested in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli

September 14, 2025

Mumbai: In a significant breakthrough against Naxal activity, Gadchiroli Police detained an active Maoist while he was conducting a reconnaissance in the Tirkameta forest area of Tadgaon. The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Shankar Bhima Mahaka from Paraynar, Gadchiroli, is a member of the Bhamragarh Dalam, a specialized Maoist unit, and has been linked to multiple violent incidents including murders, arson, and explosions.

The arrest followed a search operation by two Special Operations Team units who spotted a suspicious youth in the Tirkameta forest area under the Bhamragarh subdivision. After questioning, he was recognized as Shankar Mahaka, a Maoist who had a government bounty on his head. The Maharashtra government had announced a Rs 2 lakh reward for his capture.

Police investigations show Mahaka was involved in setting fire to 19 vehicles valued at about Rs 2 crore that were part of the Dhodraj-Irpanar road construction in 2022. Four criminal cases, including murder and arson, have been registered against him at Laheri sub-post.

Officials state the aim of the recce was to ambush security forces, and the arrest was followed by further legal action. The Gadchiroli police say their sustained, coordinated efforts have severely weakened ultras and disrupted their bases. Since January 2022, authorities have arrested 109 Maoists in Gadchiroli.

In addition to Gadchiroli, two anti-Maoist operations occurred in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand on Sunday, resulting in the death of a Maoist who carried an Rs 8 lakh bounty. In Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur forests, a gun battle erupted during a combing operation, and weapons including a BGL launcher were recovered at the scene.