The Gadchiroli police have arrested two hardcore naxals who were carrying rewards of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 2 lakh respectively on their heads. Preliminary interrogation revealed that one of the naxal was part of an advance recce team meant to reorganise Dalams eliminated in Mardintola encounter in 2021.
In November last year, as many as 100 Naxals had fired indiscriminately at C-60 commandos and jawans of the Special Action Team (SAT) from their sophisticated weapons in the Mardintola forest in Gadchiroli district disregarding the appeal to surrender. When the fierce encounter ended after almost 10 hours, senior cadre Milind Teltumbade and 25 naxals had been killed.
According to the Superintendent of Police, Gadchiroli, Ankit Goyal, on Friday during an anti-naxal operation in Sawargaon area of Dhanora sub-division, the police apprehended two suspected naxalites. On further enquiry it was confirmed that the two were indeed naxalites and they were subsequently arrested.
Those arrested are Gadchiroli residents Saniram alias Shankar alias Krushna Narote (24) and Samuram alias Surya Narote (22).
"Krushna was recruited in October 2015 in the naxal group and had also worked as a bodyguard of a senior naxal operative Joganna. Maharashtra government has also announced a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his arrest. Surya was a Jan Militia member and carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his arrest," said a police officer.
As per the police, both the accused were involved in various offences of murder, arson, exchange of fire etc. "On interrogation the duo have stated that senior naxal cadres had sent them to review the dalams in North Gadchiroli. However, the timely arrest of these two naxalites have dealt a setback to their nefarious designs," SP Goyal.
From October 2020 till date, a total 16 naxalites (carrying a collective reward of Rs 66 lakh) have been arrested, 19 naxalites have surrendered (carrying a collective reward of Rs 1.24 crore) and 55 naxalites (carrying a collective reward of Rs 4.10 crore) have been neutralised, police said.
