Image used for representative purpose only.
| Photo Credit: PTI
A senior Maoist leader, allegedly working in the Naxal organisation for the past 40 years, was arrested by the police in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district on Sunday (December 22, 2024).
Prabhakar Rao alias Balmuri Narayan Rao, 57, was in-charge of the logistics supply, mainly weapons to the Maoist cadres, in the conflict zone of Bastar, said the police in a statement. He was also the in-charge of Mobile Political School or MOPOS in the active North Sub Zonal Bureau of Maoists. These schools instil the ideology and even provide basic literacy to new recruits in the Maoist organisations.
A senior police officer said Rao’s arrest was a major development because it would disrupt a well-established supply network, given Rao was a close associate of top Maoist leaders of Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, besides Chhattisgarh. He said an experienced veteran Maoist out of the MOPOS would adversely impact indoctrination, a more crucial aspect for the security forces.
“It will give a significant boost in curbing Naxal activities in the area,” said the officer.
On the arrest, the officer said that for the past few days, the police had a tip-off about Rao’s activities in Kanker district and he was arrested in the blockade operation conducted by the police under the Antagarh police station area of Kanker district on December 22. He did not reveal the further details of the operation citing confidentiality.
Rao was carrying a reward of ₹25 lakh on his head and was a member of a State-level committee, the second powerful decision-making body in the Maoist ranks after the Central Committee, said the officer. The police statement added that Rao was the cousin of top Naxal leader Ganapati and that the former’s wife Raje Kange is also a Naxal.
Published – December 23, 2024 07:40 pm IST