Maoist couple behind Odisha bureaucrat’s kidnapping held

Malkangiri: A Maoist couple, who had alleged involvement in kidnapping Odisha bureaucrat and the then Malkangiri collector Vineel Krishna in 2011, was arrested by Visakhapatnam police yesterday.

The arrested have been identified as Bellam Narayanaswamy alias Damodar and Gangi Madi. Damodar and Gangi were carrying cash reward of Rs 20 lakh and Rs 1 lakh, respectively on their heads.

According to police sources, Damodar was wanted in over 100 cases of attack on cops, police stations and landmine blasts in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Both were working for the Maoists as special zonal committee members.

The couple was allegedly involved in killing 35 persons after attacking a boat near Chitrakonda reservoir in 2008, murdering a BSF commandant in 2012, killing policemen in Kalimela in 2008 and several similar violent activities.