Erstwhile Maoist sympathiser and now a TMC member, Chhatradhar Mahato, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) late on Saturday night. Mahato was arrested in the 2009 Rajdhani hostage case days after the high court prevented his arrest in a murder case.

NIA arrested Chhatradhar Mahato from his house in Lalgarh of Jhargram district. Chhatradhar Mahato, who was the convenor of the Maoist-backed People Against Police Atrocities (PCPA), was arrested in the 2009 Rajdhani Express hostage case.

The arrest comes 12 years after the Bhubaneshwar-bound Rajdhani Express was taken hostage by Chhatradhar Mahato. He has now been arrested under the UAPA and will be produced at a court in Kolkata. Mahato, now a TMC ground worker, is crucial for the party to woo tribal voters.