In a significant breakthrough, a Maoist leader who had been evading the law for over two decades was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Bihar's Begusarai district on Tuesday night. The operation marks a major success for the state police in its ongoing campaign against left-wing extremism.
Joint Operation Ends Long Manhunt
The encounter took place in the Teghra police station area following a tip-off. A joint team comprising the Bihar Police Special Task Force (STF) and the district police cordoned off the area after receiving specific intelligence. The intelligence suggested that the wanted insurgent, Dayanand Malakar, had assembled with his associates and was armed, planning to execute a major attack.
Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Headquarters and Operations, Kundan Krishnan, stated that upon being surrounded, the Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on the security personnel. "In retaliatory action and in self-defence, Dayanand Malakar was shot and injured," the ADG explained. Malakar was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared dead by doctors.
Notorious Criminal with a Long History
The deceased was identified as Dayanand Malakar, alias Chhotu alias Kulbir, who served as the secretary of the North Bihar Central Zonal Committee of the CPI (Maoist). A resident of Hamodih village in Begusarai, he was currently operating from Nonpur village in Teghra.
ADG Krishnan detailed Malakar's extensive criminal history, noting he had been involved in serious crimes like extortion and murder since 1999. Police records show more than 20 cases registered against him across Begusarai, Khagaria, and other north Bihar districts. He was a declared wanted criminal with a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head.
His specific crimes included:
- The 2003 murder of Shivji Mahato in the Bakhri police station area.
- The 2006 incident of damaging railway tracks under Barauni police station limits.
- Systematic extortion from contractors associated with brick kilns, roads, bridges, and building construction companies.
From the encounter site, security forces recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition, including:
- A 5.56 mm INSAS rifle
- A country-made carbine and pistol
- 25 live cartridges of different bores
- An additional magazine and 15 empty shells
Furthermore, two of Malakar's associates were arrested from the spot. A case has been registered at the Teghra police station, and legal proceedings are underway.
Surrender of Top Leaders Precedes Encounter
This encounter comes just days after another major development in the state's anti-Maoist operations. On Sunday, three senior Maoist leaders surrendered before the Bihar Director General of Police (DGP). ADG Krishnan confirmed that sustained pressure from the STF and state security forces led to their surrender.
The surrendered leaders were:
- Narayan Koda, zonal commander of CPI (Maoist), carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh.
- Bahadur Koda, sub-zonal commander, also carrying a Rs 3 lakh reward.
- Binod Koda, another operative.
Narayan and Bahadur Koda had been absconding for over 15 years and were involved in more than 23 serious criminal cases across Lakhisarai, Jamui, and Munger districts. The police have initiated the process to provide them benefits under the state's surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy.
The back-to-back events—the surrender of three high-value leaders and the elimination of a long-wanted figure like Malakar—signify intensified and effective pressure by Bihar's security apparatus on Maoist networks in the region. It underscores a dual strategy of encouraging surrender through rehabilitation while maintaining decisive operational action against those who continue armed resistance.
