Sambalpur, Nov. 5: A Maoist, Arta Bhoi, was arrested on Friday from Brahmanipali in the Jujomura police limit of Sambalpur district, 12km from here.

Sambalpur police have also seized explosives, detonators, mobile phones, gelatine sticks, uniforms and Rs 5,000 from the rebel. The police said Arta was a native of Barloi village under Jujomura police jurisdiction and he was an armed Maoist cadre. He confessed to have been involved in attack on the ARSS crusher unit at Munder on October 25.

On October 25, the Maoists had torched 27 vehicles of ARSS crusher unit at Munder in Jujomura police limit. Following this attack on the crusher unit, Sambalpur police had lunched a combing operation. The police had also an exchange of fire with him in the Jodoluisingh hill of Jujomura block in Sambalpur the next day. “Arta Bhoi was present in the Maoist camp during the exchange of fire,” said Sambalpur superintendent of police Nikhil Kanodia.

“Bhoi was arrested in 2005 in connection with Maoist activities and released on bail in 2009. The police had kept a close vigil on his activities. He is an armed Maoist cadre. He was also providing the logistic support to the red rebels. He confessed that he was involved in the attack on the ARSS crusher unit at Munder. He had gone to the crusher unit with a rifle with him,” said the superintendent of police.

“They had attacked the crusher unit with an intention of extortion. They were in search of two employees of the unit on that day,” Kanodia said.

“During interrogation, Arta said the Maoist group was being led by Girish Mahato and Kunu Dehury. Arta had 17 cases in his name in Kisinda, Jujomura and Naktideul police station in Sambalpur.”

“We have seized 10 detonators, three gelatine sticks, wires, mobile phone, uniform and Rs 5,000 from his possession. The photographs of Maoist camp and female rebels have been found in his mobile phone. We will verify the call record of his phone. There are some teenagers in the Maoist group as well,” said he.