NIA takes PLA leader in remand after arresting from Gopalpur

--State intelligence to find out Maoists relation with PLA

BRAHMAPUR: The National Investigative Agency (NIA) took leader of the banned outfit People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in remand after arresting from a Gopalpur beach resort about 14 kilometres from the city in Ganjam district on Monday night. He was arrested in a joint operation by the Brahmapur police and the NIA.

The arrested person was identified as SS Angou, the external affairs head of the banned outfit PLA, active in Manipur, informed Brahmapur SP Safeen Ahmed K. “We tracked the person on Monday basing on the report provided by the intelligence agencies. He is now in police custody,” said the Brahmapur SP to The Pioneer.

According to the police reports, Angou had come to meet a woman working in Geological Survey of India (GSI) at Gopalpur. It is suspected that the woman is Angou’s wife, who got transferred to GSI Gopalpur office two years ago, was reportedly a resident of Manipur.  

Angou has links with some extremist organisations in Myanmar and Nepal, police said.

On Tuesday, the NIA has taken him to New Delhi after he was produced before Brahmapur Chief Judicial Magistrate on Monday night.

Following the separatist leader’s arrest, State intelligence agencies has started investigation to find out whether Angou’s any link with Maoists of Odisha or not. The relation between Odisha Maoists and PLA could not be ruled out as before the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has already given reports about the nexus.

As the Maoists have good presence in the State and link with the city, the arrest of the PLA top leader from the region and supply of arms and ammunition to Maoists groups by the PLA has left many questions about the internal relation between the Maoists and PLA.