Naxals ran R and D centre in Bhopal

Bhopal, Jan 19 (UNI) With the objective of becoming self-reliant in weapons supply for waging a struggle against the government, naxals have not only gained expertise at making modern arms but were also running a research and development (R and D) centre here.

''This sensational disclosure was made during interrogation of five extremists arrested while a weapons factory was being busted in the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd area on the intervening night of January 10-11,'' Deputy Inspector-General (Bhopal Range) Anuradha Shankar Singh told journalists here today.

Information was obtained about the accused having travelled to Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Ranchi and several other places and related facts are being ascertained. The prime accused is Chakkakrishna (47) alias Shekhar alias Chandrashekhar alias Shrinivas, who hails from Kajipetha village in Andhra Pradesh's Tenali Division and carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh. This is the first time the five have landed in the police net.

''Chakka, the brain behind the R and D Centre, imparted training and can make mortars, rocket-launchers and .12-bore guns. Yalwarthi (35) alias Leelakrishna alias Diwakar carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh, Ramesh Siddhi (40) alias Ramu alias Dunna -- Rs 3 lakh, Gadrakota Petaiyya (57) alias Satish Patil alias Naranna -- Rs 2 lakh and Lanjoopalli Rani (25) alias Suneeta -- Rs 2 lakh. All of them hailed from Andhra Pradesh,'' Ms Singh explained.

More UNI