Nabbed Maoist was operating in West Bengal, focusing on Nandigram

Top Maoist leader, Venkateshwar Reddy alias Telugu Dipak, who was arrested by West Bengal Police’s criminal investigation department (CID) on Tuesday, was the key man behind prolonged land war at Nandigram in East Midnapore district that went on for the entire 2007.

“Dipak’s focus was Nandigram and Khejuri during those violent days. Later he also concentrated in organising Maoist network in Kolkata,” additional director general, CID, Raj Kanojia said here on Wednesday,

The arrested Maoist leader was remanded to 14 days in police custody by a court on Wednesday. He has been charged with several cases of murder, waging war against the country and those under the Arms Act among others.

Dipak is a mechanical engineer and was in charge of all the city units of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-M), police said. Reddy was an explosives expert and very close to top Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji.

Kanojia said Dipak is also suspected to have masterminded the attack on Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) jawans at Shilda.