A hardcore Maoist named Jhadu Tadingi (35), who was involved in a number of murders, was arrested in Naryanpatna block of Koraput district on Sunday.
According to Koraput superintendent of police (SP) Awinash Kumar, basing on intelligence reports regarding his presence, personnel of Narayanpatna police station and Koraput district police had started an operation in jungles near Dumsil village to nab him from Saturday. According to the police, Jhadu had initially joined the controversial tribal organisation Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) and had later switched over the Narayanpatna area committee of Srikakulam Koraput Divisional Committee (SKDC) of outlawed Maoist organisation.
Since 2009, he was he was involved in several cases of murder. He had led the ultras for the murder of Siva Madangi at Jogi Palur village on August 11 this year. Jhadu was also involved in the landmine attack near Patamunda of Narayanpatna area on September 1, 2012 in which a personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) Xavier Kindo was killed.
Investigation and interrogation has proved that he had provided logistic support for the IED blast on Naryanpatna-Laxmipur road in June 2009 in which nine police personnel were killed. Jhadu was involved in the gruesome murder of village leader Nityanand Meleka at Gotiguda in 2009 and murder of Suresh Piniti of Bandhugaon the same year.
Series of murders
According to the police, he was also involved in the murder of Gokula Pondu of Balipeta, Ghasi Kendruka of Dumsil, Sambru Huika of Odiapentha, Sikunu Meleka of Tentulipadar in the year 2010. In 2011 he was involved in the murder of Rabindra Bidika of Bikrampur, Dali Habika of Pilbore. He was also involved in the murder of innocent tribal Dharma Rao Kendruka of Dumsil on July 27, 2012 and had killed Sukra Huika of Odiapentha and Uday Hirdika of Bhitarpada the same year.
Apart from these murders, the arrested Maoist was also involved in other unlawful violent activities in Narayanpatna and adjoining areas like attack on Narayanpatna police station, damages to houses of non-tribal people, looting, extortion, road blockades, planting of IEDs etc, the SP said.
