RANCHI, July 30 -- In a major boost for the security establishment in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations, Misir Besra, a politburo member of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), carrying a bounty of over Rs.2.2 crore and wanted in 175 cases, was arrested in Dhanbad district on Tuesday, officials said on Wednesday.

Besra, 65, known by several aliases, including Bhaskar and Sagar, was arrested along with his two close associates in the Maniadih area under the Barwadda Police Station limits at around 9.30 pm on Tuesday. The arrest occurred during 'Operation Daura Pahad,' a joint operation of Cobra-9, the Intelligence Bureau, and the Jharkhand police, while Besra and his associates were traveling in a small transport vehicle, officials said.

Hailing t...