ATS arrests suspected Naxal with Rs 10 lakh bounty in Thane's Thakurli

Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a suspected Naxal in the Thakurli area of Thane district. The action was reportedly carried out on the morning of November 7. The Jharkhand government had declared a reward of Rs 10 lakh on him.

News that a dangerous Naxal had been found in a crowded part of the city caused a stir among security agencies as well as local residents.

According to the information available, the man arrested is Sanjay Saroj Yadav, alias Sanjay Godrai, alias Budhram. He is 45 years old. He is said to be originally from a Naxal-affected forest area of Jharkhand.

The Jharkhand government had put a Rs 10 lakh reward on him, which is why the Maharashtra ATS action is being seen as significant. Sources said legal procedures began after the accused was taken into custody, and he will be produced in court.

Preliminary information suggests the suspect had been living in Thakurli for the past 10 days. During that time he had concealed his real identity and used different names.

The ATS ran the operation in great secrecy on the basis of intelligence inputs, and the suspect was then caught. Several questions remain unanswered, however. It is not yet clear why he came to Thakurli, whether anyone helped him locally, or whether he has links with other Naxal groups.

Security agencies are expected to investigate all of this. Details of the people who were in contact with the accused, the place where he stayed and possible associates will also be important to the probe.

Security agencies in different states are continuously acting against Naxalism. With pressure rising in Naxal-affected areas, the incident has raised the question of whether some suspects are taking shelter in urban areas. Investigators are treating the matter seriously, given that a man with a Rs 10 lakh bounty was found in an urban area like Thakurli. It will also have to be established whether he was working alone or has more associates.

It would be premature, however, to conclude from this single incident that a Naxal network is active across urban areas. That will have to await official information emerging from the investigation.

All eyes are now on the investigation by the Maharashtra ATS and the police, which may turn on the accused's links with other Naxals, why he was living in Thakurli and whether anyone gave him shelter.