Security forces on Friday apprehended top Maoist commander Sabysachi Panda from Berhampore in Odisha. Officials said the top Naxal leader was held after inputs were received by security agencies on his movement.
He was also 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.
Panda had recently formed his own party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist).
There was no exchange of fire, the DGP said adding a revolver, Rs two lakh cash, 500 gm gold, ten mobile phones, two hard discs and five pendrives were seized from Panda.
"The most wanted Maoist Sabyasachi Panda was arrested by police last night from Berhampur. The arrest of Panda who carried a high reward on his head is a big achievement of Odisha Police," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced in the assembly on Friday
CM Naveen Patnaik urges naxals to shed violence
The arrest of Maoist leader has lead Patnaik to appeal to naxals to eschew violence and join the mainstream.
"I am sure this August House will join me in congratulating all the police personnel particularly the Intelligence Wing and Berhampur police who participated in this operation," he said adding state government would reward the police personnel for this "spectacular achievement." "I also take opportunity to appeal to the Maoists to shed violence and join the mainstream," Patnaik said. Read more
Two aides of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda surrender
Two aides of Panda, Dedy alias Samasan Mallick (25) and his associate Aruan Sonamaji (22) had surrendered to the police in Ganjam district in Souther Odisha in November 2012.
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 had been expelled by the Maoist party after he kidnapped two Italians in 2012. Read more
My husband is a revolutionary, not a killer: Sabyasachi Panda's wife
The Maoist leader's wife Subhashrees Panda however asserted on Friday that her husband was a revolutionary and not a 'killer' as described by the Odisha Police.
She claimed her husband's arrest was the first step on the path to his return to the mainstream. "We have been trying to persuade him to join the mainstream for the last two years. I hope his arrest would finally pave the way for his return to mainstream," she said.
The Maoist leader's wife also termed the 61 criminal cases against her husband as "fake". Read more
SLSS seeks capital punishment for top Maoist leader
The Swami Laxamananda Saraswati Samiti (SLSS), a Sangh Parivar backed outfit, on Friday demanded capital punishment for top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda who was arrested by police on Thursday night. Saraswati's killing led to large scale violence in Kandhamal and other parts of Odisha. At least 38 persons were killed, several injured and thousands of houses were torched besides damage of scores of churches during the riot. Read more
Naxal Sabyasachi Panda should face justice for his crimes, says BJD leader Jay Panda
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Jay Panda, on Friday expressed hope that reportedly arrested Naxalite leader Sabyasachi Panda would face the law for his crimes.
"He has been wanted for a very long time for many years. He has been involved in several kidnappings and other acts of violence, in Odisha and in bordering states. I hope that this information is accurate, it was long pending. He should face justice just like anybody else," the BJD leader said. Read more
Minority forum welcomes Odisha Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda's arrest
Welcoming arrest of Odisha's top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, the Odisha Minority Forum on Friday held him responsible for the suffering of minorities in the communal riot in Kandhamal in 2008.
"We welcome the arrest of Sabyasachi Panda who was allegedly instrumental in the murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati that ultimately triggered the communal violence against the innocent minorities especially in Kandhamal in 2008," OMF president Sasmit Patra said in a statement. Read more
Slain cops' wives demands capital punishment for Sabyasachi Panda
The arrest of Odisha's top maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda has brought cheers to the families of personnel who laid their lives while fighting red rebels in different parts of the state.
"I will be happy if Panda is sentenced to death. The soul of my husband should be at rest today after arrest of the maoist leader," Amita Satpathy, the widow of late Pramod Kumar Satapathy, an Assistant Commandant in the Odisha Police, said. Stating that she is happy over the arrest of Panda whose acts of violence had destroyed 59 families in the state, Amita said, "I cannot express in words how happy I am after knowing that Panda is put behind bars. He should be hanged till death." Amita Satpathy, however, urged the police authorities to ensure that Panda could not flee from the police net. Read more
With agency inputs
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