The Kerala Police have arrested A Rajeesh, an aide of Maoist leader Rupesh who was arrested by Andhra Pradesh Police from Karumathampatty near Coimbatore on May 4. The police from the Payyoli station in Kozhikode district arrested Rajeesh, who was said to be in charge of transportation of arms for Maoists, at the end of several days of surveillance by the Intelligence, police said. Rajeesh hails from Thikkodi in Kozhikode district.
According to the police, Rajeesh was in charge of transportation of arms and coordination of road travels and lodging of Maoists. He had been using his car for transporting arms to the forest borders, they said. The vehicle has also been taken into custody. The police also carried out a raid at Rajeesh’s house in Thikkodi and seized Maoist literature.
Police officials indicated that the arrest of Rajeesh was also based on the information received from Rupesh during interrogation. Officials from the Internal Security Investigation wing of the Kerala Police had questioned Rupesh and another Maoist arrested along with him, Anoop. It was Rajeesh who had arranged a hideout for Anoop in Payyoli, the police said.
According to Tamil Nadu Police, Rupesh, his wife Shyna and Anoop were arrested from a tea shop at Karumathampatty on the afternoon of May 4 after a week-long surveillance. However, Rupesh had told the media that they were “kidnapped” from Andhra Pradesh and were brought to Coimbatore by the Andhra Pradesh Police.