Patna, May 28.2000 (PTI): Notorious Ranvir Sena activist, Upendra Singh alias Mugia, involved in Lakshmanpur Bathe and Shankerbigha massacres in Bihar among others, has been arrested by the Patna Police.

Singh, who has been eluding the police since 1980, was arrested last Friday at Jalpura village in Patna district, the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police, Sunil Kumar, today said.

Describing it as a major breakthrough, Kumar said that Singh was wanted in over two dozen cases of extremist-related violence that claimed over 200 lives in Patna, Bhojpur, Jehanabad and Gaya districts of Central Bihar.

Kumar said that acting on a tip-off a team, led by the Superintendent of Police (Rural), Raveendran Sankeran, raided the Jalpura village and arrested the fugitive. However, another member of the Sena, Brijendra Singh alias Langra, managed to escape.

The SSP said that on interrogation Upendra had confessed to his involvement in mass killings at Haibaspur, Lakhsmanpur Bathe, Khainat, Mehadia Shankerbigha, Sahar, Khagaribigha and Charpokhri by the Ranvir Sena.

Upendra had also admitted before the police that the Sena was equipped with sophisticated firearms. The SSP said that members of the raiding party would be rewarded.