Three Maoists held in Bijapur, weapons seized

RAIPUR: Three Maoists were arrested and their firearms seized in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district, police said today.

The cadres were apprehended by a joint team of Chhattisgarh Armed Force and district police from restive Karkeli forest under Bedare police station limits last evening, Bijapur Superintendent of Police KL Dhruv told.

The security personnel were mobilised on an anti-Naxal operation towards Kutru forests, around 450 kms from the state capital, from Karkeli post.

When they reached Karkeli nullah, they spotted the ultras hiding under a bridge following which they nabbed them, Dhruv said.

Those held were identified as Manglu Kohrami (23), Lala Poyami (25) and Chaitu Vacham (30), all janmilitia members of the outlawed movement's national park area committee, the SP said.

Three muzzle loading guns, Naxal banners, pamphlets and posters were recovered from their possession, he said. The three were involved in several incidents of loot, arson and attacks on police party, he said, adding that they were being interrogated.