Maoist Couple Involved In ‘Abduction’ Of Odisha IAS Officer Nabbed In Andhar

Malkangiri: In a major breakthrough, the Andhra Pradesh Police arrested the dreaded Maoist couple involved in the abduction of the Odisha cadre IAS officer and former Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna.

They were arrested by a team of Grey Hound police of Andhra Pradesh from Adirindi village under Gudem police limits late on Wednesday night.

Acting on a tip-off, the Grey Hound team raided the village and nabbed Damodar alias Bellam Narayan Swami and his wife Ganga Madhi alias Poolbatti. Damodar, who is suffering from malaria, was undergoing treatment in the village.

Sources said that the Malkangiri police will bring the arrested couple on a remand for interrogation.

Damodar was one of the most wanted on the list of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha police. He was carrying a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh on his head.

The dreaded Maoist, who was the secretary of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee, had unleashed a reign of terror in Malkangiri district for more than 20 years. He was the mastermind in the abduction of R Vineel Krishna in Kudumulgumma block of Malkangiri district on February 17, 2011. Besides, he was involved in the massacre of 35 BSF personnel inside Chitrakonda reservoir near Alampakka and the killing of 12 security personnel in Telarai area in Malkangiri district in 2008 and the murder of a BSF commandant in 2012. His wife was also involved in a series of violence in the cut-off areas in Malkangiri district.