An area commander of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) was arrested in Odisha's Rayagada district Tuesday, police said.
Gameli China Mohan Rao, 25, is an area committee member of Koraput-Srikakulam Joint Division of the CPI-Maoist. He was involved in 13 murder cases, a district police official told IANS.
Rao had joined the Maoists in 2007. He was arrested during an anti-Maoist operation. He was also involved in the kidnapping of ruling Biju Janata Dal legislator Jhina Hikaka in March last year, the official said.
Several arms and ammunition, including a Belgium-made pistol, 16 bullets and three kg of ammonium nitrate were seized from him, he added.
The district headquarters of Rayagada is about 390 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.