India, July 29 -- In a significant breakthrough in India's anti-Naxal operations, security forces in Jharkhand have arrested Misir Besra, a Politburo member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and one of the country's most wanted Maoist leaders, carrying a bounty of Rs1 crore. Four other Maoists were also arrested during the operation.

Besra, who had evaded security agencies for nearly two decades, is widely regarded as the last active member of the CPI (Maoist) Politburo. Security officials believe his arrest could deal a serious blow to the organisation's top leadership and operational network.

According to the Jharkhand Police, the arrests were made during a joint operation in Dhanbad district with the support of central ...