Bhubaneswar, Jan 24 (IANS) Police Tuesday arrested one of Odisha’s top Maoist leaders in the state’s Bargarh district, a senior state police official told IANS.

Mahru Mahato alias Girish was arrested by a team of police personnel from an undisclosed village under the Attabira police station over 350 km from state capital Bhubaneswar during a search, the official said.

Mahato was the second in command in the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist’s (CPI-Maoist) Odisha unit hierarchy. He was a member of the state organising committee of the CPI-Maoist, the official added.

Mahato was wanted in dozens of criminal cases, both in Odisha and neighbouring Jharkhand. In Odisha alone, he faces about 30 criminal cases, which include several murders, abductions, extortions, blasts, arson and loot, the official said.

“We are seeking the help of the Jharkhand government to get details of the cases registered against him in that state,” he said.