MALKANGIRI: Five Maoists were arrested by the security personnel from Tulsi mountain area bordering Chhattisgarh on Sunday.
The five rebels are believed to be involved in the brutal murder of Ananta Ram Bhumia, a native of Barubeda village under Mathili police limits of the district. Producing the rebels before mediapersons at the district police office here, Malkangiri SP Jagmohan Meena said all those accused in the villager’s murder will have to undergo Test Identification Parade (TIP) soon and therefore their names cannot be revealed.
The five were arrested following anti-Maoist operations launched by the district police in Tulsi reserve forest area under Mathili police limits bordering Chhattisgarh after the killing of Bhumia by Maoists, Meena said. Two weapons used in the murder have also been recovered from the rebels under Section 27 of Indian Evidence Act, he added. Two unknown persons had reached the house of the victim, a member of Bhumia community at Barubeda village, at around 11.30 pm on October 23 and asked him to accompany them to a cultural programme which was being held in a nearby area.
However, Bhumia was taken to Dhakadrasi village, around 15 km from his village where at least 25-30 armed rebels were present. The Maoists conducted a ‘praja court’ there and branded him as a police informer after a summary trial. They later assaulted Bhumia before stabbing him with a knife. They fled the area.
Bhumia was found lying in a pool of blood by his family members on the outskirts of the village. He was taken to Mathili hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead.
Junior clerk held for posing as Maoist
Malkangiri: A junior clerk, posted at Khairput tehsil office, was on Sunday arrested by Malkangiri police on charges of extorting money from a revenue supervisor of Motu tehsil office by posing as a Maoist. The accused has been identified as 48-year-old Keshab Khilla. Police have also arrested his accomplice Ram Chandra Majhi.
Malkangiri SP Jagmohan Meena, while producing the arrested persons before mediapersons at the district police office here on Sunday, said revenue supervisor Kondapalli China Rao, a resident of High-Tech Colony in Malkangiri town, had complained that he had received numerous phone calls from some unknown persons who said they were Maoists and demanded `50,000. Acting on the complaint filed by the victim, sources were engaged by the police to trace the culprits. A special police team was formed to handle the case. While the complainant was delivering the ransom amount to the accused in a paper bag, they were apprehended by police from the spot, Meena said.