The security forces got a major success during a search operation in the Koraput district of Odisha. Odisha Police and BSF have arrested a top Maoist leader, Dubashi Shankar, from the Baipariguda block of the Koraput district. Police have also recovered cash and weapons from his possession.
Briefing the media about the arrest, Odisha DGP Abhay said, "We have arrested the senior Maoist leader from Koraput. There was no casualty from our side in the firing during this arrest. However, the area will be assessed for injuries or casualties of the Maoists who fled, leaving behind arms and ammunition."
Dubashi Shankar alias Mahendra alias Arun is an Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) member. He had a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh on his head. District force personnel, Special Operations Group and BSF jawans nabbed Shankar, a member of the State Military Commission (SMC) of the banned CPI (Maoist), from the forests near Guda Tilhar in a joint search operation. Left-wing extremist Shankar has been a member of the banned Maoist organization, CPI (Maoist) since 1987. In 2003, he was made a member of the Special Zonal Committee (SZCM). In 2010, seeing his ability, he was included in the State Military Commission (SMC) of the CPI (Maoist).
Many named offences are registered against Shankar in different districts of Odisha. There are 18 cases against him in Malkangiri district, 32 in Visakhapatnam, 24 in Telangana and two in Koraput. Shankar was being sought by the Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana police for several heinous crimes, including murder, robbery, extortion and sedition.
The dreaded Maoist Shankar is accused of killing dozens of people. He was also involved in the Govindpally landmine blast in Koraput in 2010, in which 11 police personnel were martyred. He was also involved in the Janiguda ambush in which three senior BSF officials were killed. It should be noted that this is the first time in the last 20 years that a high-ranking Left-wing terrorist has been arrested in Odisha. Police have also recovered an INSAS rifle, ten rounds of ammunition, Rs 35,500 in cash, a radio, a mobile phone and other items from his possession.
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