Five Maoists carrying Rs 26 lakh on their head arrested

NAGPUR: Five alleged Maoist cadres, including a teenaged girl, who carried a total reward of Rs 26 lakh on their heads, were arrested during a three-day operation from October 21 to October 23, the police said here today.

Those arrested include commander of Maoist platoon number five Dunga Yesu Bapu Teka (30) who was wanted in connection with nine alleged encounters and landmine blast incidents between 2005 and 2014, the Gadchiroli police said in a press release.

Teka had joined the Aheri Maoist platoon in 2002 and carried a reward of Rs 12 lakh on his head, the release said.

The police also arrested Maoist section commander of platoon number four Manas Sonare Sainu Tarami (21) who is from Bairagarh in Chhattisgarh, for allegedly being involved in 14 encounters, it said.

Tarami carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head. Other cadres arrested include a local supplier Raju Vishnu Naitam, who was allegedly involved in passing on supplies to Maoists, the release said.

Naitam carried a Rs 2 lakh reward on his head. Another prize catch is Maoist commander of platoon number three Vasant Rejiram Pathiram Wadde (21) who is from Jinglegram of Chhattisgarh and carried a Rs 2 lakh on his head, it said.

The arrested woman Maoist cadre Rupi Suman Gawade (16), who is from Pindigulam, is alleged to be CPI-Maoist's local committee member and she carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh on her head, it said.