Bihar: In one of the most extensive crackdowns in recent months, Bihar’s Special Task Force (STF) arrested 115 most wanted criminals in April, including 18 with government-declared rewards on their heads. Among those apprehended were 13 Naxalites, and the operations also led to the recovery of looted police weapons and dozens of illegal arms.
According to Bihar Police Headquarters, among the high-value arrests was Vikas alias John Wright, a resident of Rajapakar in Vaishali, carrying a bounty of ₹2 lakh. Three others, each with ₹1 lakh bounties — Subhash Kumar Mahato of Jamui, Naveen Yadav of Bhagalpur, and Raja Kumar of Madhepura — were also arrested, along with 14 others with lower reward tags ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.
Encounters and Recoveries
The month witnessed three armed encounters. In one, on April 8, the STF and Banka district police killed Ramesh Tudu alias Tetua, a notorious interstate Naxal with 15 criminal cases. He was gunned down in Budhighat, Katoria during an exchange of fire. An AK-47 and other illegal weapons were recovered.
In another joint operation in Nalanda, arms smuggler Kishan Singh was arrested following a shootout. Based on his confession, four more accused were apprehended and a Glock pistol, revolver, and rifle were seized. Similar operations in Mokama Diara led to the arrest of hardened criminals including Mukesh Rai and Arjun Rai. A rifle looted from police was among the arms recovered.
Large Cache of Weapons Seized
The STF recovered five AK-47s looted from police, seven regular firearms, and 37 country-made weapons during the April operations. The arrests and recoveries highlight the state’s intensified efforts to curb organised crime and Naxal activity in hotspot regions.
“A Matter of Security and Trust”
A senior police official described the operations as a “significant success” and reiterated the department’s commitment to upholding law and order across the state.
