NIA team begins quizzing nabbed Maoist in Malkangiri

--Search operations continue in Silakuta forest

MALKANGIRI/BHUBANESWAR: Following the death of 13 Maoists, including a woman, in a fierce encounter that took place at Silakuta forest of Padia area in Malkangiri district on Saturday, a two-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached district police headquarters in Malkangiri on Sunday to interrogate a Maoist nabbed by the joint forces of special operation group (SOG) and district voluntary force (DVF) during combing operation in the forest on Saturday.

The members of the NIA team, which is investigating the May 25 attack by Maoists on a convoy of Congress leaders at Darabha Ghati in Chhattisgarh, started quizzing the Maoist regarding his involvement in the Maoist ambush in the neighbouring State. They may ask about the involvement of slaying red rebels in the ambush along with other strategic information to know the chains of ultras moving in both the States.

Similarly, a team of the Chhattisgarh police reached the SP office in Malkangiri on Sunday to recognise the bodies of the Maoists. They would also ask the nabbed Maoist about the deceased whether they involved in the ambush or not.

After the successful operation, the joint forces have continued search operations in the Silakuta forest area to nab the Maoists who sustained severe injuries during the combing operation on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, DG of police Prakash Mishra, ADG (Intelligence) Abhay, Director of Intelligence DS Kutte and IG operations Soumendra Priyadarshi returned to Bhubaneswar after visiting Malkangiri to take stock of the situation.  

Notably, the Home Ministry is holding a meeting in New Delhi on September 25 to review the situation of Maoist-affected States in the country where the success story of Odisha police in retaliating ultras may take place. The DG of police along with the Chief Secretary of the State would attend the meeting, said a top cop.