Close aide of CPI (Maoist) commander Hidma held

Kothagudem: A key Maoist cadre and close aide of top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, head of the Maoist 'Battalion-1', has been arrested in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district along with two couriers, police said Monday.

S Soma, 22, hailing from Chhattisgarh,who is working as a deputy section commander in the headquarter platoon of the Hidma Battalion', used to maintain and monitor all supplies of explosive materials, guns and items used for grenade launchers,Bhadradri-Kothagudem district Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt said.

Soma, also a gunman of Hidma since 2014, had also participated in maoists ambushes and firing on police personnel and paramilitary forces in Chhattisgarh in which several of the personnel were martyred, the official said.

"He (Soma) is a big catch.. he has revealed the plans of the Battalion-1's movement, stay and the kind of weapons and ammunition they have besides their action plan. Accordingly, we will plan counter action and it will have lot of impact on them (maoists)," the SP said.

Two couriers--Maoist cadre Santosh, also hailing from Chhattisgarh,who regularly supplied explosive material to the 'battalion', was arrested along with Basha, a shop owner, he said.

Basha used to procure the explosive materials among other items, he added.