Maoist with 20 lakh bounty on head held in Odisha's Koraput

BHUBANESWAR/KORAPUT: Dubashi Sankar, a dreaded Maoist carrying a cash award of Rs 20 lakh on his head, was arrested from Boipariguda police station area in Koraput district on Tuesday.
Sankar was wanted by the police in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for his alleged involvement in several heinous cases, including killing of several security personnel and conspiracy to wage a war against India.
He was booked in two cases in Koraput and 18 cases in Malkangiri district. At least 32 cases are registered against him in Visakhapatnam district and 24 cases in Telangana.
“Sankar’s arrest is a big achievement for Odisha Police as this is the first time in 20 years that such a high-ranked Maoist leader was arrested in our state,” director general of police Abhay said.
Police said Sankar was allegedly involved in the killing of 10 CISF personnel at Damanjodi on April 12, 2009. He was also involved in the Janiguda ambush in Malkangiri’s Chitrakonda area on February 10, 2012 in which four BSF personnel were killed. Sankar was wanted for his role in the Govindpalli landmine blast in Koraput on April 4, 2010 in which 11 police personnel died.
Police said Sankar, who was a special zonal committee member (SZCM), had joined the Maoist movement in 1987. He was a party member of the Indrapuriyal area committee in Andhra Pradesh. He was promoted to the rank of SZCM in 2003 and joined Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) in 2004. In 2010, he joined the state military commission (SMC).
In another development, a Maoist surrendered before the deputy inspector general (south western range) Rajesh Pandit in Koraput district on Tuesday. The surrendered Maoist was identified as Sonal Madvi, an area committee member (ACM).
Madvi was arrested by Andhra Pradesh police in 2018. After being released from prison in May 2019 on bail, he rejoined the Maoist. Police said his wife too is associated with the CPI (Maoist).