Bhubaneswar, Dec 31 (IANS) Two hardcore Maoists were arrested Monday while planning to plant landmines on a road in Odisha’s Rayagada district, police said.
District Superintendent of Police Rajesh Pandit said Shrabana Gardanaka, 32, and Picha Gagaranga, 48, were nabbed by a joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police personnel during an anti-Maoist operation.
The duo were apprehended near Kharikuti village under Gudari police station while they were planning to plant land mines on a local road, Pandit told IANS.
Two landmines – each weighing 8 kg, 50 meters electric wire and two electric detonators were found in their possession, he said.
Both the guerillas were members of Bansadhara Division of outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist. They were involved in series of crimes including in blowing up a police outpost at Dangasorada and attack on a police station at Chandrapur in 2009, he said.
The district headquarters town of Rayagada is about 400 km from Bhubaneswar.
