Four Maoists accused of killing five cops held

Four Maoists, wanted for the killing of five policemen in an attack in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharsawan district last month, were arrested, a senior police officer said Saturday.

The four cadres of the CPI(Maoist) were apprehended from different parts of the district on Friday, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Kolhan region), Kuldeep Dwivedi, told PTI.

Five police personnel were killed and their weapons, ammunition and personal belongings looted in a Maoist attack at Kukud Haat under Tiruldih police station limits on June 14.

Acting on tip-offs about sightings of the red rebels of the Maharaj Pramanik squad of the banned CPI(Maoist), a special police team was formed and the raids to nab them were launched, he said.

The police also seized two motorcycles used in the attack, mobile phones of the four, and Maoist booklets and posters, the DIG said.

The mobile phone of one of the slain police officer, Inspector Yudhister Mahto, was also recovered, he added.

Dwivedi said top Maoist leaders of the area including Maharaj Pramanik had plotted the attack to kill the policemen and loot their weapons. Those leaders are still at large.