Police quiz Maoist in Jharkhand

ROURKELA: After arrest of wanted Maoist Pradhan Hembram, 30, by Jharkhand police, a team of Rourkela police on Sunday reached Chaibasa to interrogate him about his links with some of the Maoist-related incidents in Rourkela police district.
"During interrogation by our team, Pradhan confessed to his involvement in several cases in our district," said SP (Rourkela) Amitendra Nath Sinha."We are examining all his statements and cross-checking them with our case records. We are also considering to take him on remand for further interrogation," Sinha added.
According to police, Pradhan, a native of Renjda of Sundargarh, was mainly active along Odisha-Jharkhand border. In a combing operation by Chaibasa (Jharkhand) police, Pradhan was arrested on Saturday, SP (Chaibasa) Narendra Singh told a news conference at Chaibasa. Police seized one country-made pistol, two live bullets and some Maoist leaflets from him.
According to Rourkela police, besides his involvement in several Maoist incidents in Jharkhnad, Pradhan is involved in a series of incidents in Rourkela police district. His involvement in blowing up Roxi railway station, killing of nine villagers at Mahupada village under K Bolang police limits and murder of Jaipal Purty, a sarpanch, at Manoharpur last year, are being probed, a police officer said.
Arrest of Pradhan came close on the heels of surrender of Sulial Hongada, 50, another wanted Maoist, before Chaibasa SP just three days ago. Sulial was reportedly building up Maoist organization in Sundargarh, Deogarh and Sambalpur for last four years. While surrendering, Sulial had also handed over a gun and two live bullets to police.