Maoist gives cops the slip in Ghatshila

The seized revolver and mobile phones at the SSP’s office in Jamshedpur on Monday. (Animesh Sengupta)

Jamshedpur, June 23: Three Maoists were arrested from the jungles of Mosabani in Ghatshila subdivision today, but one of them managed to hoodwink police and flee soon thereafter.

The East Singhbhum police seized a loaded pistol, two mobile phones and Naxalite literature from the two arrested rebels, Hinduram and Sadhucharan Mahali. Both are members of Supai Tuddu squad of the CPI(Maoist).

Their aide, later identified as Anil Kisku, managed to escape when the three were being taken to Mosabani thana from the jungles.

SSP Amol V. Homkar said the police had received inputs that some rebels were trying to extort money from contractors involved in construction of roads and check dams in Ghurabandha and adjoining Mosabani blocks.

“We set up a special team to nab them. Three suspected Naxalites were arrested, but one of them managed to flee,” said Homkar.

The SSP said the duo would be forwarded to judicial custody tomorrow, but refused to talk much on how Kisku could flee from the police custody.

During interrogations, Hinduram and Sadhucharan, who are residents of Ghurabandha and Mosabani areas, respectively, confessed to have collected over Rs 15 lakh as levy from contractors during the past one year. Members of the squad led by CPI(Maoist) area commander Supai Tuddu are active in Ghurabandha, Mosabani and Dhalbhumgarh areas of Ghatshila subdivision.