Rourkela/Dhenkanal, Sept. 18: Three persons were arrested yesterday for providing logistical as well as intelligence inputs to the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a Maoist outfit.
In another development, cops busted an inter-district criminal gang in Dhenkanal, arresting three criminals.
In Sundargarh, cops arrested Surendra Nanda, 55, who is gramarakhi (one who assist cops in departmental work), his son Afrinda Nanda, 24, and nephew Tuleswar Nanda, 20.
The arrests were made possible because of intelligence inputs from cops in Jharkhand. Over the last couple of months, villagers of interior areas such as Sabdega, Nuagaon, Kutra, Khuntgaon and Biramitrapur were informing cops about the regular movement of PLFI members.
Sundargarh police superintendent Nikhil Kanodia said they recovered many objectionable materials, eight single-barrel guns, 41 live cartridges, explosive weighing 11.4kg, a mobile phone and a newly purchased unregistered bike from the three. The explosive and the cartridges were found under a culvert as Afrindi coughed up the information. "They were involved in a bank robbery case and we have managed to find out their involvement in several other criminal cases," said Kanodia.
Tuleswar was especially involved in providing logistical help and intelligence inputs to the ultras. He would provide information and make arrangements for their food and shelter.
In Dhenkanal, cops busted a well-knit six-member criminal gang responsible for creating havoc on the national highway and in the district.
Cops arrested three criminals from the gang, while one is already in jail. The ringleader of the gang, Damodar Dalbehera, 40, and his associate Punia absconded during the raid. Damodar is wanted in several districts in connection with crimes including murder cases.
He is also the main suspect in the Tigiria murder case that took place two years ago.
The three arrested criminals are Dileswar Rout, 28, Sant Mahakuda, 36, and Abhaya Nanda, 31, from Gudiakateni. One pistol, several rounds of live cartridges, 17 mobile phones, cash and a motorcycle were seized from them.
Dhenkanal police chief Basant Kumar Panigrahi said: "They were particularly active on the national highway. We suspect their involvement in more incidents of crime in the neighbouring districts."
