Two naxal leaders arrested

Two naxals, including one carrying a reward of Rs one lakh on his head, were arrested by security personnel during patrolling in a forest in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district in the early hours of Saturday, police said.

The security personnel apprehended them during long range patrolling from Kotsona forest following a tip off that some of the Naxal top leaders have assembled there to execute a plan.

Led by CRPF deputy commandant S N Mishra, the force which included district armed police personnel launched a massive search in the area and after staying in the dense forest through the night apprehended the naxals in the early hours of the day, West Singhbhum superintendent of police G Kranthi Kumar.

They apprehended naxal leaders Budhram Munda and Sanatan Kandir. Naxal letters and posters were seized from them, Kumar said.

During interrogation the arrested naxals confessed to the police that they were carrying letters from Boyda Pahan, a naxal 'commander' operating in Silli area near Ranchi for delivery to ultra Left leaders Amit Munda and Maharaj Pramanik.

Three cases, including those of murder and attempt to murder are pending against Sanatan Kandir, while the Khunti district administration has announced a reward of Rs one lakh on Munda's head.