Nuapada: Security personnel arrested a Maoist and a sympathiser from the forest area of Nuapada district on Wednesday morning.
Informing the mediapersons, Nuapada SP Smith P Parmar said acting on a tip-off about the presence of some Maoists inside Patapani forest, the security personnel had launched a combing operation in the morning.
“During the operation, the security personnel found two persons moving inside the forest suspiciously and detained them. When asked about their identity, the duo failed to give satisfactory reply. However, in course of interrogation, one of the detainees identified himself as Manoj Madkami, area committee member of the Bargarh-Balangir Mahasamund Division,” the SP said.
Another person, arrested by the security personnel, has been identified as Gupaleswar Majhi, a Maoist sympathizer, he added.
The SP further said Madkami was carrying a cash reward of Rs 4 lakh on his head.
Police would seek permission of the court to take the duo on remand for further interrogation, Parmar informed.