Naxal masterminds nabbed in Chhattisgarh

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, July 9 (UNI) A naxal couple, who were involved in several incidents and had links with some of those participating in the anti-rebel Salwa Judum (Peace Mission) campaign, has been arrested here.

''Jaipal Reddy, who hails from Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district, and his wife G B Lakshmi alias Nirmala Ekka were apprehended yesterday and brought to Bijapur. They were remanded to police custody until July 13. Lakshmi, who joined the ultras in 1988-89, has presided over the Dandakaranya Mahila Sangathan,'' Bijapur's Superintendent of Police Ratanlal Dangi told mediapersons today.

She was later made Commander of the National Park Dalam Toinar.

For the recent past, she was directing extremist activities in Gangalur area and has about 100 crimes registered against her in Bijapur district. The couple were involved in looting at Bijapur district's NMDC area, the Rani Bodli massacre and other major incidents. They confessed that some Salwa Judum participants were linked with Maoists.

These participants tipped off insurgents from time to time but the officer refused to disclose their names while adding that such participants were being watched. Reddy hatched conspiracies, planned major attacks and was spokesman of the naxals' Regional Committee.

UNI