Top Naxal leader Sabyasachi Panda held in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Security forces today apprehended top Maoist commander Sabyasachi Panda from Berhampore in Odisha. Officials said the top Naxal leader was held after inputs were received by security agencies on his movement.

Panda is the top commander for armed Naxal groups operating in the state and his involvement has also been detected in operations outside the state like in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, they said.

Panda was wanted in more than 50 criminal cases, including the murder of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati and four of his aides in Kandhamal district in 2008 that had triggered communal violence in the region.

Police raided a hideout on the basis of intelligence inputs and nabbed him, Director General of Police Sanjeev Marik told IANS.

In April 2012, a fast track court in Odisha had acquitted the Maoist leader’s wife in a 2003 shootout case for lack of evidence. Her release was sought by the rebels in exchange for an Italian who was kidnapped by the Maoists in 2012.

Subhashree Das, wife of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, was accused of involvement in the exchange of fire between Maoists and police in Kutingaguda area of the district in 2003.

Subhashree, also known as Mili, is one of several prisoners whose freedom was sought by Maoists in exchange for the release of the Italian tour operator Bosusco Paolo, in the custody of the rebels since 14 March.

Sabyasachi Panda was the organising secretary of the Odisha unit of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist).

Agencies