One of the highest ranking Naxalite commanders operating in northern Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for several years, Rahul Tiwari alias Abhay (32), died after being bitten by a poisonous snake in the adjoining Gadhwa district of Jharkhand, near the interstate border.

Top intelligence sources have revealed that Naxalites had hurriedly cremated Tiwari’s body at a forested site near the Chhattisgarh border at village Matagadhi in Ranka police station in Jharkhand. Tiwari had been active in extremist operations for the past 10 years. Speaking to The Indian Express, Chhattisgarh DGP Vishwaranjan confirmed that Tiwari had died of a snake bite while sleeping. He was wanted in about 40 murder cases in Surguja district on the border with Jharkhand and was also involved in dacoity, arson and extortion cases.

“He is believed to have died on Sunday night due to snake bite when he was asleep in a forested stretch in Jharkhand close to the Chhattisgarh border,” the DGP said.

Tiwari was the top militant active in northern Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for the past several years. There was also a cash reward of Rs 3.5 lakh on his head. Police sources claimed that Tiwari’s death was likely to weaken extremist operations in the area, as he was the highest ranking extremist commander here.