Orissa Maoists linked to LTTE

(January 18, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Earlier, there was the Nepal Maoist link. Now, investigations have revealed the LTTE link of Koraput Maoists, New India press reported.

The link was unravelled after the arrest of five top-ranking Maoists by Koraput police from Tamil Nadu.

During investigations, police received vital clues that one arrested Naxalite had a direct link with LTTE in Tamil Nadu and the police suspect link of all arrested Maoists with the dreaded terror outfit.

Intelligence sources informed the entry of Tamil refugees from Jaffna to Malkangiri five years back could have established the link between Koraput Naxalites with Tamil cadres who later established their links with LTTE.

According to reports, the Naxalite cadres were arrested in Tamil Nadu in June, 2007, while imparting training to local unemployed youths in a forest range using looted arms of Koraput.

According to police sources, these cadres were involved in looting the Koraput armoury in February 6, 2004.

After confirming the arms belong to Koraput armoury, a court in Tamil Nadu shifted the case to Koraput SDJM jurisdiction for further legal proceedings.

A police team of Koraput under the direction of SP, Deepak Kumar rushed to Trichy jail in Tamil Nadu and took custody of the five Naxalites on Monday. The five Maoists, including a top leader Sundar Murty (30), were produced before the Koraput SDJM court on Tuesday.

They were later remanded to judicial custody. Sources said 303 riffles, double and single barrel bore loading arms and live bullets were seized from them.

Sources said 550 firearms including 25,000 live bullets were looted from district armoury which were distributed to various groups in Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar for imparting training to unemployed youths.

Since the models of the firearms were old these could not serve for encounter purposes, police said. The Naxalites reportedly confessed their involvement in this looting of the armoury.

After the disclosure, intelligence agencies and police forces have been asked to be more vigilant. SP Kumar said they are dedicated CPI (Maoist) cadres as they were shouting slogans in support of the organisation on court premises.

The security has been enhanced at district jail after they were lodged there, he added.