Five hardcore Maoists held in Orissa

At least five hardcore Maoists, including a woman, were arrested today in two districts of Orissa, police said.

While three ultras were nabbed in Gajapati district, two others had been held in Mayurbhanj district. 

Three rifles and some Maoist literature were recovered from the three red rebels who had been active in Gajapati and Rayagada districts, Gajapati district SP Sanjay Arora said.

The Maoists arrested from Mayurbhanj district were involved in a series of attacks on forest department establishments inside Similipal National Park, said Mayurbhanj district additional SP Chintamani Panda.

In both the cases, the ultras were held during combing operations, police said. 

The three Maoists held in Gajapati, from whom weapons were seized, were involved in several attacks on security forces.

According to Panda, the Maoists involved in violence inside the National Park were accused in the attack on Patabil and Upper Barhakamuda forest office and demolition of a forest watch tower at Dabastali inside Similpal.

The two were produced at SDJM court at Karanjia in Mayurbhanj district.