Four Naxal 'sympathisers' held in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: Four suspected Naxal "sympathisers" were arrested in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district for their alleged involvement in torching of vehicles at a mining site in Korar region, police said today.

The Maoist sympathisers identified as Sunaram Teta (30), Dharam Singh Korche (36), Atmaram Korram (30) and Baliram Korche (30), were apprehended from Korar police station limits yesterday, Kanker Superintendent of Police Jitendra Singh Meena told PTI.

They were allegedly involved in setting on fire the vehicles at Barbaspur mines in April this year, he said.

On April 12, the Naxals had set ablaze 18 vehicles engaged in mining work at Barbaspur mining site in Korar area.

The rebels have been opposing the mining work being carried out by Neco Jayaswal Company.

Based on inputs collected from a female cadre who was arrested earlier this month, the security personnel were dispatched to Korar forests where they nabbed the Maoist supporters, the SP said.

With the arrests, police have succeeded in cracking down on the sympathisers' network of Naxals in the district to some extent, he said.

These persons were assigned the task of supplying ration, medicines, dropping pamphlets, putting up banners, posters for Naxals, and arranging meetings of senior cadres.

They also accompanied cadres during their medical treatment in Raipur and Dhamtari districts, he said.

Their interrogation may reveal crucial details about other Naxal supporters operating in nearby region, he added.