Five hardcore Maoists arrested in TN

Theni, Tamil Nadu, Dec 19 (UNI) A special police team today arrested five hardcore Maoists after an exchange of fire in the dense forests of Varushanadu hills in the district.

The arrested Maoists were identified as 'Nondi' Palani alias Mahalingam, Yogesh, Maruthu, Muruganandam and Balamurugan.

Yogesh, a hardcore naxal, hailed from Chhattisgarh and Palani was wanted in connection with a double murder case of 1978 at Vellore.

Acting on a tip off that people, with Leftist ideologies, were found moving in the forests and distributing pamphlets, a special team, headed by the District Superintendent of Police and supported by the Special Task Force (STF), surrounded the gang.

When the police asked them to surrender, they refused and allegedly opened fire at the police, injuring some policemen.

The police returned the fire in self-defence and arrested five of them. The police also seized arms, ammunition and explosive materials from them, an official release here said.

Palani, Maruthu and Muruganandam also suffered injuries and were admitted to the Theni Government Hospital.

The Police had registered a case and transferred it to the 'Q' Branch police for further investigation.

UNI