Arms trade: Maoist cadre held

Madurai, July 13 (UNI) The 'Q' Branch police nabbed a suspected Maoist cadre, Balan alias Balakrishnan, in connection with the recent aborted fire arms training camp of the ultras at Murugamalai near Periyakulam in Theni district.

The Naxal, after being produced before a Magistrate was remanded to custody and lodged in the central prison here today.

According to police sources, the Naxal, a close associate of top Maoist functionary Sundaramurthy, was arrested at Oddanchatram bus stand where he was waiting for a bus.

After police foiled the arms training programme last month with the arrest of three youth, suspected to be members of the ultra-left outfit, a manhunt was launched to nab the seven naxals who had fled the scene.

Three of them, including Sundaramuthry, were arrested from a hideout in Tiruppur, earlier this week. Police claimed that Balan had then made good his escape.

UNI