Gadchiroli blasts: 44-year-old 'commander' named mastermind of attack

Sources revealed he belongs to Javeli village, which falls under the Kasansur police station's jurisdiction in Gadchiroli district

Three days after 15 security personnel and a driver were killed in an alleged Naxal attack in Gadchiroli, the security forces claim to have hit upon the identity of the mastermind behind the assault. According to sources, the alleged brain behind the attacks is one Girdhar, 44, who has been listed in police records as his aliases Nagasu, Mansu and Tumreti.

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Sources revealed he belongs to Javeli village, which falls under the Kasansur police station's jurisdiction in Gadchiroli district. He is in charge of two major companies - 4 and 10. Sources claim that company 4 was behind Wednesday's attack. He is a member of the Naxals' state military commission and the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee Maoist (DKSZCM). The committee looks after the Naxal-affected areas in Maharashtra, Telangana, Chattisgarh and Odisha.

Girdhar handles at least 120 people under the two companies He is also the chief commander of the north Gadchiroli unit of CPI (Maoist). Security forces said there is a cash reward of Rs 16 lakh for finding him. He has been active for the past 15 years and is an expert in handling all types of weapons. Currently, his whereabouts remain unknown.

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Security forces are now on the hunt for Girdhar. An officer said, "They [Naxal] are well aware that he won't be able to hide in Maharashtra after this attack. He could have left the state. We are working and coordinating with forces from other states as well [to locate him]."

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