Date:25/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082512460500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Pseudo naxal held; arms dump unearthed in Anantapur district

Staff Reporter

Venkatesh arrested on seven criminal charges in Bommanahal mandal

ANANTAPUR: A pseudo naxalite and Rayadurg north area committee secretary of Naxalbari (Radical Youth Force-RYF) V.G. Venkatesh (26) alias Shyam alias Madhu was arrested by the police, near Govindavada, in Bommanahal mandal in the district on Wednesday evening.

Targeting farmers

He was allegedly involved in seven criminal cases, including extortion and two murder cases .

On the basis of the information given by him during interrogation, the police unearthed a dump in haystack belonging to one Kamma Venkatesh at Kalavalathippa in Bommanahal mandal.

The police seized two SBBL guns, one DBBL gun, one 410 musket, one tapancha, three tin bombs, 26 gelatine sticks, 160 electric detonators, Rs. 10,000 in cash and revolutionary literature.

Giving details to newspersons at Rayadurg on Thursday, Circle Inspector M. Padmakar Reddy said that the alleged criminal was a native of Kutagulla near Kadiri.

He was influenced to join RYF by Udaykumar when he approached the latter over a business dispute involving his father in 2001.

Also known as Seena alias Mallikarjuna alias Chinna, the pseudo naxalite was allegedly targeting farmers for extortion.

Supplying arms

The CI stated that Venkatesh had been encouraged by a lawyer in Anantapur and activists of the CPI(ML) and RYF. They were supplying him arms and ammunitions.

The CI asked the three to surrender to the police or they would face severe action.