Hardcore Naxal arrested in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: A hardcore Naxal, carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head, was arrested from the insurgency-hit Bastar district of Chhattisgarh and a weapon and explosives were recovered from his possession, police said on Monday.

The cadre identified as Aayta Madkami, a member of Kanger Valley Area Committee of Maoists, was rounded up from the jungles of Darbha police station limits by a joint team of CRPF, District Reserve Group (DRG) and district force last evening, Bastar Superintendent of Police RN Dash told PTI.

A muzzle-loading gun and an 8-kg tiffin bomb were also recovered from his possession, he added.

Madkami was a prominent cadre of Darbha Division, tagged as one of the most powerful wings of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) in Bastar region, which had executed several deadly naxal incidents, the SP said.

He was allegedly involved in the Jiram?valley?attack on?May 25, 2013 in Darbha (Bastar), in which 31 people, including top Congress leaders from the state were killed. He is also accused of involvement in Tahakwada ambush in Tongpal area of Sukma in April last year, in which 15 security personnel and a civilian were killed, the SP said.

"Arranging meeting of senior Maoist leaders, extortion, spreading Maoist propaganda were some other tasks which were being handled by him," the SP said.

Dash said that Madkami's interrogation might disclose crucial details about the banned outfit movement in the region, he added.