Who is the Key Maoist Operative Arrested in Kerala Linked to the Jharkhand Lanji Forest Blast?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- NIA arrests key Maoist operative in Kerala.
- Operative linked to 2021 Jharkhand IED blast.
- Three security personnel lost their lives in the incident.
- Investigation highlights ongoing threat from CPI (Maoist).
- Collaboration between agencies crucial for national security.
New Delhi, Oct 14 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has successfully apprehended an absconding associate of armed members of the CPI (Maoist) terrorist group, implicated in the 2021 Jharkhand Lanji Forest IED explosion that claimed the lives of three security personnel and injured three others, the agency announced on Tuesday.
As per the NIA, Sawan Tuti, also known as Saban Tuti, hailing from the Seraikela-Kharsawan district in Jharkhand, was arrested on Monday from Idukki district in Kerala, where he had been in hiding in Munnar.
“The NIA, in collaboration with the Kerala Police, took him into custody based on actionable intelligence. During the operation, a mobile phone, multiple SIM cards, and documents identifying the accused were seized,” the agency detailed in its press release.
The suspect, who was charged under various sections of the IPC, UA(P) Act, and CLA Act in September 2021, had an outstanding non-bailable arrest warrant and a cash reward of Rs. 20,000 on his head.
The Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion occurred in March 2021 in the Lanji Forest Hill Area of Chakradharpur, West Singhbhum, Jharkhand.
This incident resulted in the deaths of three members of the Jharkhand Jaguar unit and left three other security personnel, including one ASI/RO of CRPF, severely injured.
“The NIA's investigation into case RC 02/2021/NIA/RNC established that Sawan acted as an active Over Ground Worker (OGW) for the banned terrorist organization, CPI(Maoist),” the NIA stated.
“He was involved in a larger conspiracy orchestrated in collaboration with armed cadres of the group under the guidance of its senior leaders,” it further added.
According to the NIA, investigations are ongoing as part of the agency’s mission to identify and apprehend other suspects and conspirators involved.