Mumbai – The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a wanted Naxal cadre in Mumbai on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The arrest is connected to a 2021 CPI (Maoist) conspiracy case that involves attempts to revitalize the banned terrorist organization within the Magadh Zone.
The NIA was established in 2008 to investigate and prosecute offenses that threaten India's sovereignty, security, and integrity. The agency was formed in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, highlighting the need for a specialized body to address terror-related activities. The NIA operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and has the authority to conduct searches, seizures, and arrests without a warrant.
In a separate case from December 2025, the NIA arrested two absconding members of the CPI (Maoist) concerning the abduction and murder of Dinesh Pusu Gawade in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. The accused were identified as Raghu, also known as Pratap, Irpa, Muddella and Sailu, from Telangana, and Shankar Mahaka from Gadchiroli district. Gawade was murdered in November 2023 by CPI (Maoist) cadres who suspected him of being a police informer with ties to the RSS. The NIA stated the killing was meant to spread terror and discourage villagers from cooperating with security forces.
Earlier this week, on January 13, 2026, the NIA filed a chargesheet against a third accused, Priyanshu Kashyap, in a case related to attempts to revive the Naxal Northern Regional Bureau (NRB). Priyanshu, who was arrested in July 2025, was allegedly in charge of the Area Cell Committee in Delhi and the Sub-Zonal Committee in Rohtak. He was purportedly involved in ideological indoctrination, recruitment, and mobilization for the CPI (Maoist), as well as reviving front organizations and disseminating banned material.
These recent arrests and chargesheet underscore the NIA's ongoing efforts to counter Naxal activities and address threats to national security. The NIA continues to investigate cases related to terrorism, insurgency, and other matters that impact the integrity and sovereignty of India.
