Eight naxals held in Chhattisgarh, weapons seized

Eight naxals, two of them carrying cash reward on their heads, were arrested by separate teams of security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police said today.
The cadres were held from areas of three different police station - Toynar, Awapalli and Madded, last evening, a senior police official told PTI.
Two dreaded ultras - Santu Kuhrami and Bheem Singh (both 25) were nabbed after a gun battle between a joint team of CRPF and district force and naxals in the forests of Inchwada village of Madded, he said.
Besides, two muzzle loading guns, naxal bags and commodities of daily use were seized during a search of the spot, he added.

While Santu was an active member of platoon no11 of Maoist, Bheem was deployed as Bhadrakali Janmilitia commander andwere carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively on their heads.
The duo were allegedly involved in several naxal incidents including murder, loot, arson, killing security forces and attacks on police party, in the region.

"They played a crucial role in torching at-least 37 vehiclesand machines engaged in a road construction work in Bijapur district last month," the official said.
Similarly, a naxal identified as Madvi Lakhmu, head of Nukanpal Janatana Sarkar, was rounded up after a gun-fight with security forces from Awapalli forests.

An encounter broke out between a joint squad ofCommando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA)- an elite wing of CRPF,and district force and ultras while it was cordoning off Awapalli forests.
Following the gunfight, Lakhmu was caught when he was trying to escape from the spot along with his colleagues, he said.
A muzzle loading gun, two country made pistols, electric wire and medicines were seized from the spot, the official said.
Five lower rung members- Podiyami Boli (40), Podiyami Kumma (48), Badru Telam (21), Aaytu Kudiyam (40) and Vijja Kudiyam (48) were apprehended from Toynar, he said.