3 alleged women Maoists arrested in Tamil Nadu

Three alleged Maoist women cadre were arrested by the Q branch police on Thursday from Karur and Kancheepuram districts.

CHENNAI/KARUR: Three alleged Maoist women cadre were arrested by the Q branch police on Thursday from Karur and Kancheepuram districts.

Police sources identified them as Reena Joyce Mary (32), Kala a.k.a Janaki (53) and Chandra (52).

Reena was a suspect in a 2008 encounter between the police and the Maoists at Kodaikanal. She was also one of the Maoists arrested in an operation at Uthangarai in 2002.

Sources said a police team traced Reena, who was found working in a textile factory at Padapai on Thursday evening. Based on the information given by her, another police team traced Kala and Chandra living in a rented house at Vengamedu in Karur district.

One of the duo swallowed a piece of paper on seeing the police, onlookers said adding she shouted pro-Maoist slogans.

Police are trying to find out how long they were residing in Vengamedu and their links with the house owner in Karur.

The two women have been taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation. They are likely to be produced before a judicial magistrate on Friday.

Police officials said these suspects had contacts with Maoists in other states and some of them had jumped bail.