The National Investigation Agency apprehended Chandan Kumar in Mumbai for his involvement in a 2021 conspiracy to revive the banned CPI (Maoist) in Bihar’s Magadh Zone. Chandan, a resident of Jehanabad district in Bihar, was an active member of the outfit, focusing on fundraising through extortion and levy collection from contractors. He also played a crucial role in motivating former cadres to rejoin for terrorist activities.
Chandan had been declared an absconder by the NIA Special Court in Ranchi, Jharkhand, with non-bailable warrants issued against him in October 2023. The agency initiated the case in December 2021 against several individuals, including Pradyuman Sharma and members of the CPI (Maoist), for conspiring to re-energize the organization in the Magadh Zone by raising funds for arms procurement and cadre training.
Investigations uncovered a plot to launder funds through various channels, with plans to connect with incarcerated Naxals and Over Ground Workers to facilitate the outfit’s revival efforts. The arrest of Chandan Kumar is a significant milestone in dismantling the terror financing and revival network in the region, where Maoist influence has historically been prevalent in rural and forested areas of Bihar and neighboring states.
The Magadh Zone, comprising districts like Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Gaya, and Arwal, has witnessed repeated attempts by the outfit to regroup despite ongoing security operations. The NIA’s probe has revealed how extortion activities funded arms procurement and cadre recruitment, with the aim of undermining sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Chandan Kumar’s apprehension follows previous arrests and supplementary chargesheets in the case, which have disrupted urban and overground support structures for the banned group. The NIA is actively pursuing further investigations to uncover additional linkages, potential financiers, and remaining absconders, underscoring its commitment to eradicating Left-Wing Extremism networks through coordinated enforcement efforts.
This development aligns with broader national initiatives to thwart Maoist revival endeavors, particularly in Bihar and Jharkhand, where intelligence-led operations have resulted in surrenders, arrests, and seizures in recent years. Authorities anticipate that such actions will dissuade remaining cadres and OGWs from pursuing violent ideologies.
