Malkangiri, Dec 28: A Maoist, who was among a dozen Maoists arrested by Malakangiri district police Wednesday, allegedly committed suicide at the district police barrack here Thursday.
The deceased, Sama Kabasi, who hails from Jandhraguda village under Mathili police limits of the district, reportedly hanged himself with his napkin inside the toilet of the police barrack, Superintendent of Police Jagmohan Meena said.
The man was rushed to the hospital where doctors pronounced him brought dead.
The deceased went to the toilet when the arrested Maoists were boarding a police vehicle to be taken to the court, where they were scheduled to be produced. Sometime later he was found hanging from the ceiling in the toilet, the SP said.
The body was handed over to his family after post mortem and an officer of the rank of a deputy superintendent of police of the Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) has been asked to probe the incident.
Meena said the investigation is being carried out as per the NHRC guidelines.
The arrested ultras were picked up from their hideouts in Maoist affected Mathili, Kalimela, Mahupadar and Chitrakonda areas of the district over the past two days.
The arrests are a major breakthrough for the police in the district which is reeling under left extremism for the past several years. (PNN)