Gadchiroli police arrest most-wanted Maoists

The arrested Maoists (from left) Maroti alias Anturam alias Manik Sadhu Gawade; Ajit alias Bharat Mainu Hichami; Suman alias Janni Komati Kudyami and Bapu alias Ramaji Doghe Wadde

The Gadchiroli police arrested four hardcore, most wanted Maoists, including a woman, in the wee hours of Thursday in Nelgunda village. They had gone to the village in plain clothes when the cops nabbed them after chasing them for around 30-minutes in dense forest area. The Maoists include Bapu alias Ramaji Doghe Wadde, 30, native of Nelgunda; Maroti alias Anturam alias Manik Sadhu Gawade, 34, native of Kaneli; Suman alias Janni Komati Kudyami, 24, native of Padatanpalli and Ajit alias Bharat Mainu Hichami, native of Zarewada of the Maoist-infested Gadchiroli district. They were carrying a total reward of Rs 18 lakh declared by the state government, said Gadchiroli police.

"Based on an intelligence input, an anti-Maoist operation was launched by the Special Operation Squad (C-60), Gadchiroli in the forest of Nelgunda within the limits of Armed Out Post (AOP), Dhodraj. While conducting the operation, Gadchiroli police arrested four hardcore Maoists," said Ankit Goyal, the superintendent of police, Gadchiroli. "Information regarding the Maoists of CPI (Maoists) groups entering Nelgunda village in plain clothes in order to execute their subversive activities was learnt from reliable sources. Accordingly, the anti-Maoist operation was launched by the C-60 parties," Goyal said.

He further added that Bapu Wadde was Area Committee Member (ACM) with Company No. 10. "He actively participated in the brutal killing of policeman Dushyant Pandhari Nandeshwar at village Kothi on August 14, 2020. He was involved in 13 offences including seven murders, three encounters, one arson and two robberies," Goyal said. "Another arrested Maoistite Maroti Gawade was also ACM with Gatta Local Organisation Squad (LOS). He was the member of Action Team of the Maoistites. He was involved in three major offences of encounter committed by the Maoistites," Goyal said. "The arrested female Maoistite Kudyami was operating with Permili LOS as a member. She was involved in 11 major offences including three murders and eight encounters committed by the Maoists. Maroti Gawade and Ajit alias Bharat Hichami both actively participated in the brutal killing of two civilians namely, Ashok alias Navin Peka Narote and Mangesh Masa Hichami on April 13, 2022," he said.

The anti-Maoist operation was successful under the guidance of Ankit Goyal, Superintendent of Police, Gadchiroli; Sameer Shaikh, Addl. SP (Admin.), Gadchiroli; Somay Munde, Addl. Supdt. of Police (Ops.), Gadchiroli and Anuj Tare, Addl. SP, Aheri, Gadchiroli police. Goyal has appealed to Maoists cadres to renounce the path of violence and surrender in order to live with dignity.