A hardcore Maoist who had abducted IAS officer Alex Paul Menon in 2012 when he was District Collector of Sukma has been arrested, Special Director General (Naxal Operations) DM Awasthi informed here on Thursday.
“Bheema alias Akash who was a DVC leader and carried rewards of `8 lakhs on his head, came in the dragnet of Special Smart Team (SST)— a wing of State Intelligence Bureau (SIB)” the Special DGP said while addressing a press conference here at Old Police Headquarters.
Besides abduction of Menon, Bheema was also involved in triggering a 30 kg IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blast in June 2010 at Borguda village on Sukma-Konta highway wherein seven CRPF personnel were killed, he said.
According to Awasthi, Bheema on May 19, 2012 had also executed a blast at Iptaguda village in Bastar region wherein, two STF jawans had died.
According to the police, Bheema a native of Naxal stronghold Palamgudu village near Polampalli of insurgency-riddled Dantewada district had joined Maoist cadre in December 2004 while he was just 18 years old.
“Bheema has some medical training and he used to treat Naxals injured in police action and had even performed surgeries,” Awasthi claimed.
Detailing about Menon’s abduction, Awasthi informed that on April 21, 2012, Bheema along with an armed team of 16 persons had reached Manjhipara village where the Collector was scheduled to address a public meeting.
“They had planned that if seven or eight gunmen accompanied the Collector, then the abduction plan would be terminated. However, Naxal recce party informed them that only one gunman was with the Collector,” the Special DGP said.The team led by Bheema attacked and shot down the gunman who was carrying AK-47.
However, one more guard who was with Collector who fired upon them with his 9 mm pistol was also then chased and killed, Awasthi said. “Bheema then took the Collector on gunpoint and reached Durguda village about 3 km from Manjhipara.
They moved on foot to Sirshetti village that is about 6 km from Manjhipara and stayed there for the night.
Passing through various villages they reached Pamlur village and on April 27 and on April 29, Menon was handed over to Naxal battalion number 1 Commander Hidma, the Special DGP revealed.