Date:14/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/14/stories/2008021452950300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Fake naxalites arrested

Staff Reporter

Soap bombs, cell phones, knife and toy pistol seized

Gang involved in extorting money from contractors
It was operating under the name of Murali dalam

SIRCILLA (KARIMNAGAR DT): The police have arrested three former naxalites and two other villagers who, taking advantage of the waning naxal movement in the district, formed into a fake naxalite gang and resorted to extortions from contractors and others.

The gang was also involved in the burning of a poclain belonging to a contractor, who was laying a road between Vanpalli and Garjanapalli villages of Yellareddypet mandal on January 11 this year causing Rs. 13-lakh damage, as the contractor refused to pay a ransom of Rs. 5 lakh.

Local villagers thought that it was an offence committed by Maoists and also took out massive rallies denouncing the naxalites’ alleged violent act. The police, during their routine vehicle checking at Almaspur village of the mandal on Tuesday, arrested the five persons moving under suspicious circumstances on three motorcycles and recovered four soap bombs, two stolen cellular phones, a knife and a toy pistol from their possession.

Confess to police

During the interrogation, the accused confessed to have formed into a fake naxalite gang and resorted to extortions and burning of a poclain under the name of Murali dalam.

Disclosing this to newsmen, Superintendent of Police Y. Gangadhar said that they had arrested Manuku Raju, 25, (former Maoist), Thatikonda Sathaiah, 30, (former Janashakthi naxalite), Mudam Pradeep, 24, (former Janashakthi sympathizer), Lakavath Raju, 30, and Cheekati Srinivas, 23. He said that the gang was involved in three extortion cases in Konaraopeta mandal.

Talking to newsmen, the gang members said that they had decided to extort money from innocent people and contractors to lead a luxurious lives. “There is no naxalite movement in the Karimnagar west division, so we decided to constitute a fake naxalite dalam in the name of Murali,” they stated.

The SP appreciated the efforts made by Sircilla Circle Inspector P. Venugopal Rao, Yellareddypet SI Venkateshwarlu and their team for successfully nabbing the fake naxalite gang. Officer on Special Duty Harikrishna, Sircilla Deputy Superintendent of Police A. Mogilaiah and others were present.