Police arrests six Naxals involved in Dantewada massacre

Dantewada (Chhatisgarh), May 24: In a major breakthrough on Monday, Chhattisgarh Police arrested six Naxals for their role in the Tarmetala ambush which claimed the lives of 76 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police.

Among the arrested are Naxal commander Barsa Lakhma.

Briefing media about the arrests, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Amresh Mishra said: "We have arrested six people in two different incidents, including Lakhma last night from Morpali, four kilometers from Chintalnar."

The others arrested included Oyam Hidma, Podiyami Hidma, Kawasi Budra, Oya Ganga, Dura Joga.

During interrogation the arrested Naxals reportedly told officials that the CRPF personnel were sitting ducks after they lost their wireless instrument.

Lakhma told them that the Naxals were keeping a close tab on the movement of security personnel.

The CRPF patrol was selected as a target because they had stayed put in one place for an entire day and their movements were under a constant watch by Naxalites, Mishra said.

The arrests follow the Centre's move to transfer three CRPF officers, including its Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nalin Prabhat.

ANI