Maoist messenger held in Kothagudem

Kothagudem: The Kothagudem police arrested a Maoist courier and recovered revolutionary literature and a pen drive from his possession here on Friday.

Bhadrachalam Assistant Superintendent of Police Rajesh Chandra, giving details of the arrest to the press, informed that the courier was identified as Manda Ranjith Rao of Nayudupalam in Nalgonda district, now living at Meerpet in Hyderabad.

He was found moving suspiciously during vehicle inspections at Yellandu crossroads and was taken into custody. Upon interrogation, he revealed his identity. He is pursuing post-graduation in Osmania University in Hyderabad.

Ranjith Rao met the CPI (Maoist) party Telangana State Committee secretary Hari Bhushan and its leader Chandranna in the forests and moved along with the Dalam 20 days ago. Sometime later, he was assigned the task of handing over the revolutionary literature and letters written by Hari Bhushan to some persons in Hyderabad. As part of the task, he was travelling to the State capital in a bus during which he was arrested, the ASP informed.

Ranjith Rao had joined the Maoists following clashes with his family members and has been working as courier for Hari Bhushan since 2014 providing materials required by the Maoists.

He was arrested by Venkatapuram police in Mulug district on June 8 in 2018 when he was transporting gelatin sticks, detonators and other explosives. He was sent to jail, and was released later. After release from jail, he continued his work, the ASP said.