Maoist explosive expert held, gun and landmines seized in Orissa

The police arrested a hardcore Maoist in Orissa's Rayagada district and seized five landmines and five guns besides a large quantity of explosives from his possession.

The ultra, who was identified as Purna alias Ramesh Mambalika, an explosive expert and a master in making landmines, was nabbed from his native village at Tubuni in the Gudari police stattion area last night on a tip-off, Rayagada SP Anup Kumar said.

Ammunition, including gelatines and 15 kilograms of splinters used in the making of landmines, were seized, the SP said.

"Ramesh was coordinating ultra movement in Rayagada district and as many as six criminal cases were pending against his name at different police stations," the SP said.

Besides being involved in the killing of two 'gram rakhis' at Dhepaguda area, Ramesh also confessed to have been directly involved in the Nayagarh armoury attack in 2007, the police said.