Maoist memorial demolished in Chhattisgarh; one Naxal held

A Naxal was arrested by security forces in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district, police said today. Uika Gunda (27) was apprehended from Kumharapara village under Basaguda police station limits last evening, Bijapur Additional Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela told PTI.

A joint squad of Central Reserve Police Force and district police was conducting a combing exercise in Malepalli region, around 450 kms from the state capital. On reaching Kumharapara, they spotted a suspect trying to escape from the spot following which they chased and nabbed him, he said.

During interrogation, Uike admitted of being involved in the outlawed movement as 'sangham member'. He was involved in several offences, including attack on security forces in Basaguda-Sarkeguda (2010), murder, loot, and arson in the region, the ASP said.

In a separate incident, a 30-ft tall Maoist memorial constructed in dense forests of Pakhanjore in North Bastar's Kanker district was demolished by security personnel.

A joint contingent of local police and Border Security Force dismantled the memorial in forest area between Mad Pakhanjore and Uliya under Bande police station limits last evening, Kanker Superintendent of Police RN Dash said. "It was the tallest of all Maoist memorials so far we have destroyed in the district," Dash added.