Patna: Police in Bihar have arrested Visheshwar Roy, the chief of the banned Ranvir Sena, who was wanted for his alleged involvement in a number of murders.

Roy was arrested from his hideout in Ara village, about 54 km from Patna, sources said.

"He is wanted in many massacres. He has 11 cases against him and was absconding. We are questioning him and trying to find out the gang's involvement in other cases as well," A K Ambedkar, Superintendent of Police of Bihar's Bhojpur district, was quoted as saying.

Among the massacres in which Roy has been accused of being involved is the one at Bathani Tola in which 24 lower-caste Hindus were killed in 1996. Roy, who carries a reward of Rs 2,00, 000 on his head, was however, unrepentant about his crimes or his capture on August 18. "I have murdered at least 25 to 30 people with my own hands," he said.

The Ranvir Sena, which represents the landlord class in Bihar, has often clashed with outlawed Maoists, who champion the cause of the land-less lower-caste people.

In clashes between the two groups, hundreds of innocent people have lost their lives, their property and other belongings. In Bihar, the upper castes form an estimated 35 percent of the population, but control 70 percent of the land.

ANI