A hardcore Maoist allegedly involved in the abduction of ruling BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka and wanted in several murder cases, was arrested in Odisha's Rayagada district, police said today.
Acting on a tip-off, a police team arrested the ultra Gameli China Mohan Rao alias Santu of Goudaput village in Andhra Pradesh from a forest area yesterday, they said.
A 9 mm pistol, live ammunition, five geletine sticks and some detonators were also recovered from the Maoist, Rayagada Superintendent of Police Rajesh Pandit said.
Two pen drives, two cellphones, a fake voter identity card and over Rs 60,000 were also seized from the naxal, an area committee member (ACM) in Koraput-Srikakulam division of Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), Pandit said.
The arrested Maoist confessed to his involvement in the abduction of Hikaka, the tribal legislator from Laxmipur in March, 2012.
The ultra told police that Maoists, who had given a bandh call on March 24, were engaged in blocking the road near Toyaput when they had spotted Hikaka in a vehicle, police said.
The naxal further stated before police that on his direction, that the MLA was abducted and produced before Srikakulam-Koraput divisional committee secretary Daya.
Hikaka was released after spending more than a month in the captivity of Maoists.
