The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Vishal Singh for allegedly supplying a drone to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) organization, also known as CPI (Maoist), to further their violent, anti-national activities. The arrest was made on Sunday, June 22, 2025, and followed an investigation that uncovered Singh's involvement with the Maoist group.

According to the NIA, Singh is a member of the CPI (Maoist) and played a direct role in providing the drone to the organization. The probe revealed that he delivered the drone to leaders of the banned outfit in the Chhakarbanda/Panchrukhiya forest area of Bihar. Furthermore, Singh provided technical training to other Maoist cadres on how to operate the drone, enhancing their capabilities in conducting violent operations. This training reportedly took place in 2019, indicating a sustained effort to support the Maoist's activities.

Following Singh's arrest, the NIA conducted a search of his residence in West Delhi, where they seized a number of digital devices, including hard drives, pen drives, and mobile phones. These devices are currently being analyzed for further incriminating evidence that could shed light on the extent of Singh's involvement and the broader network of individuals supporting the CPI (Maoist). Singh is originally from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

The NIA's investigation suggests that Singh's actions are part of a larger conspiracy to revitalize the Maoist's influence, particularly in Northern India. This involves not only providing material support like drones but also actively participating in cadre recruitment and raising funds, allegedly from sources in Jharkhand. The Maoists have been attempting to rebuild their influence and expand their operations in the region.

The use of drones by Maoist groups represents a significant escalation in their tactics and poses new challenges for security forces. Drones can be used for reconnaissance, surveillance, and even potentially for delivering explosives, giving the Maoists an enhanced operational capability. The NIA's successful apprehension of Singh is therefore a crucial step in curbing the Maoist's ability to leverage technology for their violent ends.