Idukki: A wanted Maoist leader, accused of killing three policemen in a bomb blast in Jharkhand, was arrested in Munnar, Kerala, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Sahan Tudi Dinabu, a native of Jharkhand, was apprehended late Monday night in a joint operation by the Kochi and Ranchi units of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), with support from Kerala Police.

Dinabu had been hiding at the Gudarvilla estate in Munnar with his wife, posing as a guest labourer. Acting on specific intelligence, the estate was surrounded, and Dinabu was arrested without resistance.

Investigators noted that Dinabu had been working at the estate for over a year and a half, evading detection after fleeing Jharkhand. He is a key accused in the Maoist attack that killed three policemen in a bomb blast.

“The arrest is part of an intensified nationwide operation against Maoist networks,” NIA sources said. They added that Dinabu may have maintained contact with other operatives in different states, making this a significant breakthrough in the ongoing anti-Maoist campaign.

Following the arrest, Dinabu underwent a medical examination and is currently held in secure custody at the Munnar police station. “He will be taken to Jharkhand soon for further legal procedures and detailed interrogation,” officials said.

The authorities highlighted that the operation reflects close coordination between state police and central agencies.