Mohan Vaidhya (File Photo)

Indian police have arrested Mohan Baidhya alias Kiran, a senior politburo member of the CPN-Maoist in the bordering Indian town of Siliguri, reports Tuesday said. Along with him, Narayan Bikram Pradhan, another leader who is a permanent resident of India’s Jalpaigudi has also been arrested.

According to news reports, Superintendent of Siliguri police Rajiv Mishra has confirmed the arrest of the Maoist leaders. He was quoted in the reports as saying that India would hand over the arrested rebel leaders to Nepal if formal requests were made.

The Maoist leaders were arrested at 8pm on Monday. According to Mishra, the Indian police presented the arrested leaders at court in Siliguri. The court then issued a 9 day remand to them.

Baidhya, 52, one of the key ideologue of the rebel outfit was believed to have gone to Europe a few months earlier via India. Another politburo member CP Gajurel was arrested in India while making similar attempt with a phony passport.

Presently, Baidhya was commanding the Eastern Bureau of the Maoist organization. nepalnews.com mbk/dr/rh