Woman among 4 Naxals arrested in Kothagudem

Kothagudem: Four naxals, including a woman of Janashakti (Chandra Pulla Reddy faction), were arrested by the police at Gundala in the district on Wednesday.

Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt produced the arrested naxals before the media at his office. He said on a tip-off, the police have undertaken search operations at Gundala village and spotted the naxals, who were apprehended while trying to escape.

The arrested were identified as Mokalla Sammaiah alias Kumar acting as the state secretary and Mokalla Rambai of Kodavatancha village of Gundala mandal, Podiam Ithaiah and Madivi Devaiah, both Dalam members hailing from Mamillavaigudem of Aswapuram mandal in the district.

Sammaiah has been working with Janashakti and CPI (ML New Democracy CP faction) since 2005. He was involved in nine crimes, including Kurnool double murder case and facing cases of extortion at Gundala, Komararam, Aswapuram and Mangapet police stations.

On Wednesday, the four naxals were found hiding near Mallannavagu at Gundala in bid to extort money from local contractors. One 8mm rifle, two SBL rifles and one county made rifle were recovered from them along with 90 rounds of ammunition, SP Dutt informed.