TPC rebel sets out to watch football match, lands up in police net

Ranchi: Ramesh Mahto alias Pahadi, a wanted area commander of the banned LWE outfit, Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), was arrested during a raid on the city outskirts close to Chatra district on Monday afternoon, police said on Tuesday.
SP (rural) Naushad Alam said acting on a tip-off that the rebel was coming to watch a football match organised at Bachra village, a team comprising personnel from Ranchi and Chatra police raided the area and arrested him from a hillock near the football ground under Burmu police station limits.
Alam said, “Mahto was active in Chatra, Hazaribag, Ramgarh, Ranchi, Latehar and Lohardaga districts. Around one dozen cases related to murder and extortion were registered against him.”
He is an accused in the murders of Santosh Mahto in Bachra village, Santosh Lohra in Budmu area and Maoist operative Mohan Yadav. He was also involved in the firing at a coal trader under the Patratu police station area.
A motorcycle used by the extremist has been impounded, Alam added.
Chatra SP Rishab Jha said if any Covid-19 guidelines were violated by organising the football match in Bachra village, action will be taken for which he will consult the deputy commissioner.
A disaster management official said stadia and playgrounds are allowed to hold sporting events without spectators.