Mayurbhanj police arrested a hardcore Maoist from Brahmamara area under Morada police limits on Thursday.
The Maoist, identified as Gobardhan Singh (23) alias Muna, was active in West Bengal and Jharkhand areas.
Police said Singh along with two other armed cadres had come to Moroda area recently to motivate youths besides keeping a track on movement of police and collecting information about them.
While Singh was caught, the other two managed to escape before the police could reach there. Talking to mediapersons, Mayurbhanj SP Nikhil Kumar Kanodia said Singh had joined as a Maoist cadre two years back. “He was an active member of a group of seven. Six others belong to Nayagram area in West Midnapore district of West Bengal. He had received training in Jharkhand in 2012. His group was active in Gopiballavpur and Nayagram in West Bengal and Moroda, Chandua and Suliapada in Mayurbhanj district,” the SP said.
After preliminary investigation, it was ascertained that Singh was involved in the case in which 18 cycles loaded with kendu leaves were burnt in Vandidihi forest a couple of years ago. He was also involved in several extortion cases in Nayagram and Gopiballavpur.
Police said West Midnapore SP has been informed about his arrest and urged to provide details about the cases registered against Singh.
Police recovered ` 600 in cash which he had looted from a businessman on Wednesday. A case was registered and he was produced in Baripada SDJM court, added the SP.