In West Bengal, elusive tribal leader Chhatradhar Mahato, who has been spearheading an agitation since November last against alleged police excesses in West Midnapore's troubled Lalgarh area, was arrested yesterday. A senior police official said, Mahato, considered close to Maoists, was apprehended from Pirka near Lalgarh while giving an interview to a journalist. The leader of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities had been giving regular interviews on local television news channels when anti-Maoist operations by central para-military forces and state police began on June 19 but he had gone underground shortly afterwards. State Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said the authoroties are mulling whether to slap the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act against Chattradhar. District Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said, there are 15 cases of subversive activities pending against Chhatradhar who will be produced before the court today.