Maoist leader arrested in Bargarh

Bargarh Superintendent of Police Surya Thangapa said the arrested Maoist was identified as Satrughna Biswal alias Mangu, the second-in-command in CPI (Maoist)`s Orissa branch.

"We nabbed Satrughna Biswal from near the railway station. He was identified as an active member of the Orissa state organising committee of the out-lawed CPI(Maoist)," he said.

Biswal, a resident of Ersama area in Jagatsinghour district, is in-charge of the Maoist outfit in Bolangir, Bargarh and Nuapada districts. A 9 mm pistol, 6 live bullets, a letter to Moist leaders and other materials were seized from his possession, Thangapa said.

The arrested Maoist, actively associated with Maoist activities since 2006, is considered as next to Sabyasachi Panda in the Maoist rank and file in the state.

Biswal is the first ultra to be apprehended after Orissa government stopped combing operation since February 16 after abduction of the Malkangiri Collector R Vineel Krishna.