One held for attack on Jharkhand SP

Mishra refused to reveal more details but a senior police officer said Besra has revealed names of his accomplices. The police said that Praveerda,the Naxals Zonal Commander in Santhal Pargana,masterminded the July 2 attack.

Besra had been arrested for his alleged role in an attack on a police team during the 2009 Lok Sabha election but was released about a year ago. Before that,he had been arrested in connection with the protest against a power plant in Kathikund.

A Kathikund panchayat leader claimed Besra was just a political worker. I was also in jail in a case relating to that agitation. There was a brief period when I was in jail and he was outside. I dont know if he joined Maoists then, he said. When he came out,he bought a tractor and started farming. As far as I know,he never went underground.