BHUBANESWAR, May 28: CPI (Maoist)’s central committee member and wellknown Maoist Sandeep was found dead in the Lutua forests of Gaya on Wednesday evening. The body of Sandeep alias Vijay Yadav (56) was found by a CRPF team who took him to Gaya’s Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital, where he was officially declared as brought dead.

A post-mortem examination was conducted and the report was awaited. The body was handed over to his family members.

Wanted in over 500 cases by the police in several States like Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and West Bengal, Sandeep had been absconding for the last 27 years. He had been active since the 1990s and was in charge of the Bihar-Jharkhand central area committee of the CPI-Maoist. Police said he had been ill for some time.

Sandeep Yadav hailed from Lutua village of Gaya. His wife is a teacher and daughter and son-in-law reportedly live in Delhi.

Sandeep Yadav carried a reward of Rs 83 lakh on his head, announced by several State Governments, reported Kalinga News.