43 from Naxal`s urban network held in Chhattisgarh in 5 years: Govt

The Chhattisgarh government on Wednesday said that 43 people, who were part of the urban network of the Maoists, were arrested in the state during past five years.

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government on Wednesday said that 43 people, who were part of the urban network of the Maoists, were arrested in the state during past five years.

In a written reply to a question from senior Congress legislator Bhupesh Baghel in the state Assembly, Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra informed the House that as many as 43 people, including women, were arrested from 2009 till January 20 this year on charges of involvement in urban channel of Naxals.

However, six of them were later exonerated while cases against 37 others were pending in the court of the law.
As per the reply, seven alleged Naxal urban conduits were held in 2009 followed by two in 2010, eleven in 2011, six in 2012, eight in 2013 and nine in January this year.

Essar company General Manager DBCS Verma, contractor B K Lala and school teacher Soni Sori were among those arrested in 2011.

Last month, nine persons - Mohpal Dhruva, Baliram Usendi, Chaitram Darro, Sukhnath Nareti, Neeraj Chopra, Dharmendra Chopra, Ravi Kadiyam, Badri Gavde - all from Kanker district of north Bastar and Foolsingh Naag of Kondagaon were arrested in this connection, the reply said.

In a written reply to another question by Leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo in connection with the arrests last month, Paikra informed the House that all the nine arrested were found involved in providing assistance to Naxal commander and divisional committee member Prabhakar.
Cartridges, detonators, pistol, country made pistol, gelatin, fuse wire, Naxal literature, banner, posters, medicines, bills of commodities supplied to Naxals and cash were recovered from their possession, the reply mentioned.

They were booked under provisions of Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, Explosives Substances Act and Arms Act, it added.

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