Misir Besra, Maoist commander with Rs 1 crore bounty, finally arrested

The arrest followed the surrender of 16 Maoists under the Jharkhand government's 'surrender and rehabilitation policy'.

2 min readRanchiUpdated: Jul 30, 2026 02:54 AM IST

Misir Besra entered the Maoist movement in the mid-1980s, rose through the ranks over nearly four decades and played a key role in building the outfit's organisational and armed structure in Jharkhand. (File photo)

Misir Besra – the last senior Maoist leader in Jharkhand, on whose head there were bounties worth Rs 1 crore – was arrested Tuesday. Apart from Besra, four men, including two other Maoists – identified as Tumba Manjhi and Biren Hansda – were also arrested.

Besra’s arrest was part of a joint operation that involved CoBRA – the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, an elite unit within the Central Reserve Police Force.

CoBRA personnel are trained in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare.

Details about the Maoist network Besra ran will emerge after his interrogation, the police said. They refused to disclose, however, where Besra would be interrogated.

He has been linked to at least two major attacks that killed 55 security personnel.

Also Read | Hunt for Misir Besra: He made a daring escape once, now last top Maoist standing

16 Maoists surrender

The arrest – which authorities hope will derail Maoist activities in Jharkhand and neighbouring regions – came a day after 16 fighters, including a regional leader, surrendered to Jharkhand Police in Ranchi.

Police said the 16 Maoists had been active in the Kolhan-Saranda forests and Latehar district, and worked with teams led by Besra and central committee member Asim Mandal.

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Who is Misir Besra?

Born in the village of Madnadih, which is in Giridih district, Besra was known by many names. Some of his aliases were Sunirmal, Bhaskar, Sagar, and Pradhan.

Whatever name he used, he was among the senior-most Maoist leaders in the state.

How important is he?

Police records indicate Misir Besra is a CPI (Maoist) Politburo member and also part of the Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and the Eastern Regional Bureau.

How did he become a Maoist?

Besra entered the Maoist movement in the mid-1980s.

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He rose through the ranks over nearly four decades and played a key role in building its organisational and armed structure in Jharkhand.

In recent years, he was believed to be active mainly in the Kolhan and Saranda regions and, for the last few months, in the Parasnath hill area.

Shubham Tigga

Shubham Tigga is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, presently based in Pune, where he covers the intersections of infrastructure, labor, and the modern economy. His reporting focuses on civil aviation, urban mobility, the gig economy, and workers' unions, providing critical insights into how transit and commercial sectors impact the daily lives of citizens. Expertise & Background Before moving to Pune, he reported extensively from his home state of Chhattisgarh, where he focused on Indigenous (Adivasi) issues, environmental justice, and grassroots struggles in mainland India. This experience gives him a unique lens through which he analyzes the impact of large-scale infrastructure projects on local communities. Academic Foundation He is an alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), where he honed his skills in investigative reporting and ethical journalism. His academic training, combined with his field experience in Central India, allows him to navigate complex socio-economic landscapes with nuance and accuracy. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More

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