Police arrest top Maoist leader in Orissa

Keonjhar (Orissa), May 10 (ANI): Police nabbed four Maoists, including a core commander, who allegedly orchestrated a series of attacks in the Similipal Tiger Reserve area in Keonjhar district of Orissa.Police also recovered a live cartridges, country made pistols and Maoist literature from them.

"Bhaskar, who happened to be one of the core commanders of the Kalinga Nagar Area Committee (KNAC) which operates in Jajpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal and some parts of Mayurbhanj district has been arrested by the Special Operation Group and soldiers.

We have recovered arms and lot of documents which indicate the activities and programme of Maoists in the area," said Soumendra Priyadarshi, superintendent of police, Keonjhar district.

The Maoists operate in a large swathe of India stretching from the east to some southern states, mostly in the countryside, and attack government officials and property.

Orissa is one of nine states badly affected by the more than three-decade-old Maoist revolt.

The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of millions of impoverished peasants and landless labourers. (ANI)