Two Maoists arrested in Andhra Pradesh

Warangal (Andhra Pradesh), Dec 28 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Police have arrested two Maoists and retrieved six million rupees during a raid in the State's Warangal district on Sunday.

Shah Nawaz Qasim, Superintendent of Police, Warangal said the police took into custody Velagandula Veeraiah and Siddam Shetty Vykuntam at Mangapet as they were trying hand over the money to other Maoists near a forest.

"They came to Gangugudem village abutting the forest to hand over money to Chandranna, Haribushan and Damor of CPI (Maoist) party. On credible information, our police party reached the village and seized two bags - one containing Rs. 50 lakh and another Rs. 10 lakh. They were collected from contractor K. Sudarshan Reddy, who is also involved in the crime of abetting naxal activity," Qasim added.

The police also unearthed huge cache of arms dumped in various parts of the district. It includes a Springfield rifle, two 8 mm rifle in gunny bags and five live cartilages, 400 gelatine ticks, 50 detonators and five coupling bombs.

An investigation is on to nab remaining accused.

The Maoist violence is estimated to cause 600 to 700 deaths annually and the displacement 100,000 civilians. It has spread to 182 of India's 602 districts and has been declared as the country's single biggest internal security challenge.

The main objective of the Maoists is to prevent the development of infrastructure in remote areas, which so far has remained their exclusive domain. (ANI)