Arvind Yadav, a notorious Naxalite with a bounty of ₹25 lakh on his head, was among the eight Maoists killed in a fierce gun battle with security forces in Bokaro, Jharkhand, on April 21. What has shocked many is the lifestyle this rebel leader led—one marked not by hardship in the jungles, but by luxury, branded fashion, and high-end accessories.

Despite being a hardcore member of the banned CPI-Maoist group, Arvind Yadav was known for his obsession with expensive clothes, branded watches, and even imported shaving blades. His fondness for luxury became so pronounced that he was reportedly identified after the encounter by the premium watch he was wearing on his wrist.

From Guerrilla Warfare to Glamour

A resident of Bhelwa Mohanpur village in Jamui district, Bihar, Arvind had been active in the Naxal movement for over two decades. He rose through the ranks to become a zonal spokesperson of the CPI-Maoist in 2008. Over the years, he amassed significant wealth by collecting levy money—extortion funds extracted from local businesses and contractors operating in Naxal-affected regions.

His close aides would frequently supply him with designer clothes, shoes, and other luxury goods during his visits to the forests of Jamui, Lakhisarai, and Munger. He even maintained a residence for his family in Kolkata, far from the Naxal-occupied zones of Bihar and Jharkhand. Arvind leaves behind four children.

High-Profile Maoists Eliminated

The gunfight at Luguburu hill in Bokaro also claimed the lives of several other top Naxal leaders, including Central Committee member Vivek (carrying a ₹1 crore bounty) and Saheb Ram Manjhi (₹10 lakh bounty). The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that eight Maoists were killed in total, and several sophisticated weapons and documents were recovered from the encounter site. Operations in the area are still ongoing.

This encounter has exposed the stark contrast between the public image of Naxalite leaders and the opulent lives some of them secretly lead—financed by extortion and blood money. Arvind Yadav's story is a chilling reminder of how insurgency can be cloaked in glamour, even as it continues to claim innocent lives and destabilize regions.