Three hardcore Maoists carrying reward of Rs3 lakh each on their heads was arrested during an anti-insurgency operation carried out by security forces in Dantewada district of Bastar, police said on Thursday.
A joint squad of District Reserve Group (DRG) and a team of local police from Barsoor police station nabbed the ultras based on intelligence inputs, Superintendent of Police (SP) Dantewada Kamlochan Kashyap informed.
They were identified as Baman Podiyami (30), Mani Poyam (27) and Budhu Barsa (25), all residents of villages falling under the limits of Barsoor police station limits, he said.
They were active as military platoon members in Indravati Area Committee of Abhujmad region, he said.
Baman was associated with Maoist organization since 2005 and initially worked as Janmilita member and was later elevated as a member of platoon number 16 active in Mad division of the Naxals. Prior to arrest, he was working as President of Naxal frontal organization Dandkaranya Kisan Adivasi Majdoor Sangh (DKAMS), the SP informed.
According to him, Mani had also worked as the member of platoon number 16 while Budhu was a member of platoon number 17. They worked at ground level to strengthen the Maoist ideology and gather work force for Naxals.