The rebel, identified as Roshan Munda of Chaibasa area in Jharkhand, was caught during a joint combing operation by CRPF and anti-naxal SOG force from Gariakhaman forest in Kisinda area, Sambalpur SP Nikhil Kanodia told reporters.
The operation had been launched following a tip-off about presence of some Maoists in the forest, he said adding Munda was a top leader of Sambalpur-Deogarh-Sundargarh zonal committe of CPI (Maoist).
The ultra, who had joined the rebel outfit during 2009-2010, was involved in a number of violent incidents in Saranda area on Odisha-Jharkhand border, the SP said.
Munda was also involved in the attack on a construction company plant in Jujumara area of Sambalpur district in October, 2011. He was also involved in a major encounter with security forces during the same month, police said.