Dandapani

Mohanty, convener of Jana Adhikar Mancha (JAM) was arrested on last Friday by a joint team of Berhampur, Gajapati and Ganjam police on charges of his involvement in Maoist activities. According to police sources, there were six non-bailable warrants (NBWs) pending against Dandapani. Besides, there were nine other cases under investigation in which his role was clearly established, sources said.

The charges against Dandapani include blasting of telephone towers, meeting and harbouring Naxalites, collection of money from gullible public in the name of Naxalites, alleged murder of Dinabandhu Mantri etc.

Meanwhile, Mohanty continued hunger strike inside R Udaygiri subjail demanding ‘political prisoner’ status. According to sources, Mohanty has through jail authorities sent letters to governor MC Bhandare, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Gajapati district collector seeking treatment as a political prisoner.

Mohanty shot into fame after successfully mediating with the government for the safe release of the then Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna in 2011 and Italians Paulo Bosusco and Claudio Colangelo last year.

It may be mentioned here that on December 5, police arrested the 62-year old’s son Sangram Keshari Mohanty for alleged links with Maoists and claimed seizure of some weapons and Maoist literature from him.

The state government in 2006 had outlawed Daman Pratirodh Manch headed by Mohanty on the ground that the regional outfit was serving as a front organisation of CPI (Maoist).