Five Maoist militia members arrested in Kothagudem

Kothagudem: The Cherla police have arrested five Maoist militia members in the district on Friday.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Sunil Dutt informed the press that the police detained five persons who were found under suspicious circumstances during vehicle inspections by local police, CRPF 141/A Coy and special party police at Kaliveru crossroads in Cherla mandal.

During questioning, they revealed their identities and said that they were working as militia members under DCS Azad and Cherla LOS Commander Sodi Jogaiah. The arrested Maoists were identified as Kovvasi Bheemaiah, Karatam Beema, Madakam Iduma, Madivi Adama and Madakam Deva, all hailing from Chennapuram village of Cherla mandal, the SP said.

The SP further informed the arrested Maoists came Cherla to conduct recce on the movements of political parties and police parties to carry out attacks on them. The arrested were involved in many offences and they would be sent to judicial custody.

In another development, in Chhattisgarh, exchange of fire took place between the CRPF 168 Battalion personnel and the Maoists in the forests of Ayutapalli and Korasaguda area under Basaguda police station limits in Bijapur district on Friday.

The police seized explosive material at the incident spot. It was said that many Maoists were injured and all the security personnel were safe.