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Maoist wanted for Andhra MLA's murder held in Koraput

KORAPUT: A Maoist wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged involvement in the murder of a former MLA and a sitting legislator in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh was arrested in Koraput district on Friday night.

The arrested rebel has been identified by police as Jayaram Khilo, 24, of Tala Kandapalli village under Padwa police limits.

He is a member of the Nandapur Area Committee of the outfit, police sources said.

The accused rebel has been arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act for the murder of Telugu Desam Party’s Araku MLA, Kidari Sarveswara Rao, and former legislator, Siberi Soma, near Livitiputtu village under Dumuriguda police limits of Andhra Pradesh on September 23, 2018.

SP (Koraput) Kanwar Vishal Singh said steps were taken to track Khilo after his name surfaced in the murders. “Special teams were formed to look out for him. We were tipped off about his presence in Padwa. Accordingly, a plan was made to arrest him,” the SP said.

The arrested Maoist was also wanted by police for his alleged involvement in the murder of Hatibari sarpanch Jagannath Khara (45), under Nandapur block, in August 2017. “Cases are pending against him for involvement in torching three road construction vehicles under Padwa police limits,” the SP said.

Initially, a case had been registered with Dumuriguda police station, Subsequently, it was handed over to the NIA.

In the past few weeks, an NIA team had visited various places under Padwa police limits in search of Khilo, police sources said. “He will be produced in a local court and handed over to the NIA for further probe,” the SP added.

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