The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Sarpanch held on charge of transporting arms

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Sarpanch held on charge of transporting arms

By Our Staff Reporter

KARIMNAGAR, DEC. 28. The Manthani police have arrested two persons -- a Telugu Desam Party village sarpanch, and a local businessman - while they were allegedly carrying a DBBL weapon and two landmines to hand them over to the CPI (Maoist) naxalites on the outskirts of Chinaodela village in Manthani mandal on Tuesday.

The Godavarikhani ASP, Srikanth, told The Hindu that the Manthani police, during their routine visit to the village, noticed P. Ramesh, sarpanch of Vilasagar village of Jammikunta mandal, and M. Sunil Reddy, a businessman of Peddakomatipalli village in Mulugu mandal of Warangal district, moving under suspicious circumstances with gunny bags. When the police checked the gunny bags, they found a DBBL weapon and two landmines and detonators.

Sarpanch confesses

On interrogation, the accused confessed that they were taking the arms and ammunition to the Maoists DCM, Mallikarjun alias Srinu. The sarpanch said that he was summoned by the naxalites through the Jammikunta Dalam commander, Ashok, and the Hamali Sangham leader, G. Samrajyam. The DCM had instructed them to procure arms from a Hyderabad-based businessman, Anil Reddy, and handed over Rs. 5 lakh. Accordingly, the sarpanch approached the Warangal businessman, Sunil Reddy to meet his brother-in-law, Anil Reddy, who involved in procuring weapons. They both went to Hyderabad and informed him about the matter. When there was delay in arrival of arms consignment, Anil Reddy handed over a DBBL weapon and two land mines to show as a proof to the naxalites. The ASP said that the Maoists were making all out efforts to revive their dalam in the Huzurabad division by procuring weapons. The Manthani CI, T. Sudarshan, has registered a case under the Arms and Explosive Substance Act.

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Andhra Pradesh