A top-ranking Maoist leader Marpu Venkataramana alias Jagadish was arrested by the district police at Anakapalle in the district on Thursday. Venkata Ramana, who is carrying a reward of Rs.20 lakh on his head, had served as East Division Committee secretary in the past. He is now a State Committee member of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee. “He was involved in a number of encounters in the past including the Gunukurai encounter. He had sustained a leg injury and was taking treatment at some undisclosed place. He was arrested while trying to escape from Anakapalle,” Narsipatnam OSD A.R. Damodar told The Hindu .
