Seven persons arrested for Maoist links in Orissa

Seven persons have been arrested for having alleged links with Maoists and planning to abduct a government official in Orissa's Keonjhar district, the police said today.
       
"They were picked up by jawans of the anti-Maoist Special Operation Group (SOG) and police from Padang village in Telkoi police station area yesterday," superintendent of police Asit Panigrahi told reporters.
       
The accused were planning to abduct the block development officer (BDO) of Telkoi on November 18 after the arrest of two Maoist cadre from the area, he said, adding that
the BDO cancelled visit to his village after getting tip-off about the plot to kidnap him.
       
Several Maoist literature and handwritten letters were seized from the arrested persons, hailing from Gudinarda village in Telkoi area, the police said.
       
They were identified as Bhagaban Juang, Mahendra Juang, Sumant Juang, Pitambar Juang, Baban Juang, Desabandhu Juang and Sujan Juang, they said adding that further investigation was on to gather details about their links with Maoists.