Sabyasachi Panda with crime branch officials in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, July 31: A special team of the state crime branch today began interrogating Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda.

A four-member team, led by inspector general of police (crime branch) Y.B. Khurania, quizzed Panda about the attack on the Nayagarh armoury — in which 14 policemen were killed in 2008.

The crime branch has prepared a set of 40 to 45 questions to interrogate Panda, sources said. The Maoist leader seems to have co-operated in the interrogation that lasted for more than six hours in two phases today.

Sources said Panda had initially complained of health problems and the interrogation begun after a medical check-up.

The rebel leader has been kept in a special cell on the third floor of the complex, and the security around the crime branch headquarters has been beefed up.

A three-tier security has been made at the crime branch headquarters with two platoons of armed police and sniffer dogs deployed inside the building.

Khurania said that during interrogation, the entire sequel of events from the attack on Nayagarh police station and reserve police line, conspiracy behind the attack to identification of criminals involved in it would be ascertained.

Besides, efforts will also be made to ascertain how the attack was planned. The weapons that were looted from the armoury have since been recovered.

Earlier, director-general of police Sanjiv Marik had said the revolver seized from Panda following his arrest on July 17 belonged to the Nayagarh armoury.

“Besides the twin cases at Nayagarh, 12 more cases are registered against Panda and if required we will move court to seek further remand,” Khurania said.

Panda’s advocate Amiya Patnaik said that earlier they had sought court’s intervention to ensure that the officials interrogating his client revealed their identity before the interrogation that was duly followed today.