The Hindu : Front Page : ZP vice-chairman's killing: 2 militants held

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Monday, Jun 11, 2007
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ZP vice-chairman's killing: 2 militants held

Staff Reporter

ZP vice-chairman was shot dead at Hukumpeta on May 29

VISAKHAPATNAM: Two militants who allegedly played a role in the recent killing of Zilla Parishad vice-chairman Sammidi Ravisankar by Maoists in the agency area were arrested by the Narsipatnam police on Friday. The two were identified as Javvadi.Neelakantham, 30, of Kindangi in Paderu mandal and Killo Somesh Kumar, 20, of Digasampalli in the same mandal.

They were found carrying grenades, gelatine sticks and detonators while checking vehicles and detained. The ZP vice-chairman was shot dead at Hukumpeta on May 29 during a village festival.

According to Narsipatnam Assistant Superintendent of Police T.K.Rana, the two had close ties with Maoists and passed on information to them. They were part of a plan to kill Ravisankar and Neelakantham passed on "false" information to Maoists about Ravisankar accepting money to encourage bauxite mining.

Somesh Kumar, Neelakantham and Vantala Somaraju alias Sekhar and JNM Sridhar alias Kumar, two Maoist action team members, had come to Hukumpeta and watched Ravisnakar's movements for two days, a month before the actual killing. Some more persons from Paderu and its vicinity also `cooperated' in the killing.

Mr.Rana said action against such persons was likely after all the information was available.Meanwhile, the Maoists East Division secretary Jagadish demanded that the two be produced in a court and accused the police of harassing innocent tribals.

Khammam Staff Reporter adds: Meanwhile, five Salva Judum activists were kidnapped by CPI(Maoist) activists near Kunta in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Sunday.

Police sources said that two women were among those kidnapped. They launched a massive operation in search of the Salva Judum members.

The kidnapped persons who belonged to Banda village had been in the State sponsored relief camp for the past six months as part of the rehabilitation programme. The naxalites forced them to accompany them to the forests. Their whereabouts were not known so far.

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