Raipur: Chhattisgarh police today said they have arrested a senior Maoist leader who had abducted the IAS officer Alex Paul Menon from Sukma district in 2012.
"Bheema alias Akash, a divisional committee (DVC) leader of Maoists who was carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, was yesterday nabbed by a special wing of the state intelligence branch," Special Director General of Police (anti-Maoist operations) D M Awasthi said today.
A native of Palamadgu village near Polampalli, a Maoist stronghold in Sukma, Bheema was under the scanner of special smart team (SST), a special unit of SIB, for a long time. He was nabbed from the forests of south Bastar adjoining Andhra Pradesh and Telangana yesterday, said Mr Awasthi.
Bheema joined the Maoist in 2002 when he was 18. After he executed the abduction of Mr Menon, who was then posted as Sukma collector, Bheema was elevated as DVC leader.
During the interrogation Bheema revealed that he was directed by the Maoist leader 'Erra' to abduct Mr Menon from Manjhipara where the collector was to meet villagers on April 21, 2012, said Mr Awasthi.
"A 16-member team of Naxals led by Bheema was camping close to Manjhipara from April 19. They had decided that if seven or eight gunmen accompanied the collector, then the abduction plan would be dropped.
"However, Naxal recce party informed that only one gunman was with the officer," the SDGP said.
The team led by Bheema attacked and shot down the collector's bodyguard who was carrying an AK-47. Another guard fired back with his pistol, but he too was shot dead.
The Maoists then took the collector to Sirshetti village, about 6 km from Manjhipara, and stayed there for a night. They reached Pamlur village on April 27, and on April 29, Mr Menon was handed over to Maoist battalion number 1 commander Hidma. Mr Menon was released on May 4, 2012.
"Bheema alias Akash, a divisional committee (DVC) leader of Maoists who was carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, was yesterday nabbed by a special wing of the state intelligence branch," Special Director General of Police (anti-Maoist operations) D M Awasthi said today.
A native of Palamadgu village near Polampalli, a Maoist stronghold in Sukma, Bheema was under the scanner of special smart team (SST), a special unit of SIB, for a long time. He was nabbed from the forests of south Bastar adjoining Andhra Pradesh and Telangana yesterday, said Mr Awasthi.
During the interrogation Bheema revealed that he was directed by the Maoist leader 'Erra' to abduct Mr Menon from Manjhipara where the collector was to meet villagers on April 21, 2012, said Mr Awasthi.
Advertisement
"However, Naxal recce party informed that only one gunman was with the officer," the SDGP said.
Advertisement
The Maoists then took the collector to Sirshetti village, about 6 km from Manjhipara, and stayed there for a night. They reached Pamlur village on April 27, and on April 29, Mr Menon was handed over to Maoist battalion number 1 commander Hidma. Mr Menon was released on May 4, 2012.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
For 1st Time, Tricolour To Be Hoisted In 13 Villages Of This Maoist-Hit Region 4 Get 10 Years In Jail For Trying To Run Over IAS Officer With JCB machine 16-Year-Old Schoolboy Beaten To Death By Maoists In Chattisgarh: Cops Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged For Matthew Perry's Death "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP What Is The Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid's Origin? Scientists Have An Answer AP ICET Counselling 2024 Revised Schedule Out, Check Details Manipuri Girl's 'Jana Gana Mana' Rendition Goes Viral, Wins Praise Online Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.