Malkangiri: Twelve Maoists have been arrested during combing operations in Malkangiri district, police said Wednesday.
The arrested left-wing extremists were picked up from their hideouts in Maoist-infested Mathili, Kalimela, Mahupadar and Chitrakonda areas of the district over the past two days, superintendent of police (SP) Jagmohan Meena said while addressing the media Wednesday.
The arrests are a major breakthrough for the police in the district which is reeling under left wing extremism for the last several years.
Further investigations are on to get details about the past history of the arrested ultras while the SP declined to reveal their names fearing impediment to the probe.
The arrested ultras are suspected to have been involved in the killings of Dambaru Hantal (53) in Kalimela area in October, Muya Kabasi (27) in Mathili area December 15 and Sadhu Khemudu (45) in Chitrakonda area December 19, the SP said, adding the innocent tribals were killed on the suspicion of being police informers.
The ultras, opposing developmental works in the interior pockets of the district, have set fire to several vehicles engaged in road construction projects in these areas over the last few days.
The Maoists have become disillusioned and are trying to instill fear among the local residents by unleashing violence, the police said. This they have been doing to tighten their grip on the locals, the police added.
Details about the arrested ultras’ antecedents and their involvement in various subversive activities will be known only after their interrogation gets completed.
Efforts are on to arrest more Maoists operating in the district, the SP said.
Sub-divisional police officer Pratik Singh and other senior police officials were present at the press meet. PNN
