Ranchi, Mar 21: The Communist Party of India (Maoist), which has been leading the insurgency movement in Jharkhand and adjoining regions, was dealt with a major blow as the outfit's senior most politburo member Deo Kumar Singh alias Arvindji died of a heart attack on Tuesday.

Arvindji, reported to be the "most wanted" Maoist commander in Jharkhand, was suffering from heart ailments for long, said state police spokesperson Ashish Batra.

"The latest information is that he is dead. We are awaiting more facts," Batra told reporters.

Arvindji, carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore, was in his mid-fifties. Under police radar over the past two decades, the naxalite had been treading cautiously in the woods of Ramanujganj and Bruha Pahar.

His roots are traced to Bihar's Jehanabad district, where he was born. Arvindji's kin still reside in the same district.

The deceased militant's family members in Bihar would remain under watch to ascertain the information about his death and cremation, reports citing Intelligence sources said.

Arvindji last came close to the clutches of law in October 2017, when the security forces had launched an operation in Burha Pahar, where he was holed up. Dozens of Maoist cadres were arrested in the drive. However, Arvindji had managed to flee.

His death is expected to further weaken the presence of the outlawed organisation in Jharkhand, which has recently faced an aggressive crackdown from the joint team of CRPF and the state police. As many as 10 Maoists were arrested in the counter-naxal drive initiated in Giridih sector earlier this month.

The CPI (Maoist) has called a state-wide bandh on March 29 to protest the alleged excesses committed by the forces against tribals in the recent offensive.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 21, 2018 10:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).