3 arrested for helping Maoists in Orissa, CPI(M) claims them as partymen

Three persons were arrested today for helping Maoists in Sorada area of Ganjam district in Orissa.

Although they were not Maoists, they worked with them and transported material for them, superintendent of police Nitinjit Singh said.

The three were identified as Satya Mandal and Laxman Mandal of Dhaugaon village and Rajesh Mallick alias Rahas of Pipalapanka village.

Satya and Laxman allegedly assisted Maoists in an attack on a liquor vendor about two months ago, while Mallick acted as an informer for the ultras, police sources said.

The CPI(M0, however, claimed that Satya and Laxman were active members of the party.

"We demand their unconditional release immediately," state secretary member of CPI(M) Ali Kishor Patnaik said.

"It is nothing but interference by the police in political activities of a party like CPI(M) and to harass people," Patnaik said.