‘Extortion gang’ caught

A gang of armed bandits allegedly involved in extortion and settling civil disputes, have been nabbed.

A gang of armed bandits allegedly involved in extortion and settling civil disputes, all under the guise of Janashakti naxalites, have been nabbed in a joint operation by the Anti-Naxal Squad and the Guntur rural police here.

Led by I. Sabhavat Babu Naik and Busi Rambabu, whose cousin Macha Satyam had links with Janashakti group, the gang has been involved in cases of extortion, kidnap and settlements of civil disputes in Guntur and Nalgonda districts for the past few years. The gang was intercepted by special party police at Chennayepalem and Regulagadda under Piduguralla rural limits.

The police recovered a double barrel loaded gun, 16 rounds of ammunition and a toy pistol, used by the gang.

Superintendent of Police, Guntur Rural, J. Satyanarayana, said the police could achieve a major breakthrough in the cases involving attacks on contractors after they kept a vigil on their activities.

Six Maoists lay down arms

Staff Reporter from Visakhapatnam adds: Six Maoists reportedly surrendered before the police at G. Madugula on Tuesday.