A Maoist carrying Rs 8 lakh reward was arrested after an encounter in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday evening. The arrested Maoist has been identified as Sandeep alias Lakkhu Kunjam, an area committee member of the Khatia Mocha Dalam of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
At least four other Maoists including one called Rajesh managed to escape during the encounter, sources said.
The additional director general of police (ADG), Balaghat zone, K.P. Venkateshwar Rao confirmed the arrest of Kunjam to THE WEEK. Rao said that Kunjam, 25, has 18 cases registered against him in Madhya Pradesh and four cases in Chhattisgarh. The Chhattisgarh Police had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh on Kunjam, while the MP government had announced a reward of Rs 3 lakh.
The ADG said that on Tuesday evening Balaghat police got intelligence through local informers that there was a movement of about 20-22 Maoists in the jungles close to village Jairasi in Birsa tehsil of the district. Of these, five Maoists had entered the village allegedly with the intention of killing a suspected police informer.
Upon receiving intelligence, the district police, the special investigation branch (SIB) and the hawk force cordoned off the village.
Maoists present in the forests then opened fire on the police party leading the forces to retaliate. However, the sound of guns alerted the Maoists present in the village and they tried to escape. Kunjam was apprehended by the forces, Rao said.
Kunjam hails from Bengur village under Kuakonda police station in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.
The officer said that Kunjam is an area committee member and efforts are on to get details about his criminal activities in neighbouring Maharashtra and other Maoist-infested states, too. Interrogation of the Maoist is also expected to provide important information about activities in the region, the ADG said.
Another encounter in Bahela area
Meanwhile, a team of the hawk force of the Balaghat police was engaged in another encounter with Maoists in the forests near Kadla village under Bahela police station area on Tuesday morning, the ADG confirmed. The force had got information that a group of Maoists were transporting materials of daily use through the forest area. They were challenged, but managed to escape through the dense forests.