Two Maoists held in Chhattisgarh's Bastar

Two Maoists, one of them carrying a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, were arrested from separate places in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bastar division on Tuesday, police said.

Cadre Ranjit alias Itwaru Korram (23) was apprehended from Mardapal police station limits of Kondagaon district, while Massu Ram Potai (35) was nabbed from Amabeda police station limits of Kanker district, Kondagaon Additional Superintendent of Police Surjeet Atri, told PTI.

A team of local police was carrying out a combing exercise in Mardapal region, located around 200 km from the state capital, when they spotted Ranjit hiding in the forests allegedly to keep a tab on the movement of security personnel. After surrounding the area, he was held, the ASP said.

In another search operation based on specific inputs, Kondagaon police arrested Massu Ram from bordering Amabeda region of Kanker district, he said. They were involved in several incidents of crime, including loot, arson, attacks on security personnel and destroying government property, Atri said, adding that Ranjit was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head. They both were being interrogated, he added.