Three suspected Maoist leaders held, firearms seized

Three suspected Naxal cadres, carrying rewards on their head, were arrested along with an alleged Maoist sympathiser in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district today.
Firearms were recovered from the ultras, IG (Bastar) SRP Kalluri said.
The cadres were apprehended while they were conducting a recce operation to kill a surrendered Naxalite, identified as Badru, under Barsoor police station, he said.
Among the arrested cadres, Hunga (27), the group commander of Kamloor-Bhansi local operation squad (LOS), and Guddu Telam (22), a member of Bhansi LOS, were among the most wanted ones, the official said.
They have executed "several deadly incidents" in Dantewada region, the IG said, adding they were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 1 lakh on their head respectively.

The duo were allegedly involved in killing of three policemen, including an inspector, in Kirandul area in 2011, two CISF personnel at Bacheli checkpost in 2012, besides torching of vehicles engaged in construction works at several places in Dantewada, the IG said.

Another ultra arrested today was Punem Kamlu, an active member of section 'B' (under platoon-2 of company-2 of Maoists), who was operational in Dandakarnya region, he said, adding Kamlu was carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head.
The arrested Naxal supporter is identified as Ramesh Yadav (22) who has confessed having the Maoists in procuring commodities for their daily use, the IG said.

The police have recovered a 9 mm pistol and 23 live rounds, two 8 mm pistols and 24 live rounds, besides a 12-bore country-made gun along with its 12 live rounds from them, he said.
Their interrogation has brought to fore "crucial information" regarding the network of Maoist sympathisers operational in the region and after verifying it action will be taken against them, the IG said.