Naxal leader on the run held in Telangana

: A leader of the armed underground 'dalam' (group) of CPI (ML) New Democracy was arrested on Tuesday and a .303 rifle along with ammunition was seized from him, police said.

D Sammaiah (50) was apprehended in the forest area of Raigudem in theBhadradri-Kothagudem district of Telangana, superintendent of police Sunil Dutt said.

The naxal, wanted in 13 criminal cases in different police stations, was caught while police were searching for dalam members who were involved in firing at a police party in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district on July 31, they said.

In the firing, Linganna, state secretary of the CPI (ML) New Democracy, and the "Commander of the Linganna Dalam", the underground group formed by him, was killed.

Of late, the naxalites have been camping in the forest area of Gundala mandal with a view to extorting money from contractors and businessmen.

Besides, the naxal group was involved in inducing innocent tribals to indulge in illegal activities like cutting down of trees in the name of podu (slash and burn) cultivation.