'Arrested Naxals were sending jobless youths to AP for training'

BERHAMPUR: The two Naxalites, Siba Munikhal and Sunabhanja, who were arrested from Hanumantpur in Muniguda area in Rayagada district yesterday have divulged some vital information before the cops.

The two played an important role in sending many unemployed youths of the area to Andhra for Naxal training, police said.

On Friday night, Siba was nabbed at Hanumantpur while extracting money from two traders there. Later, he was interrogated by Rayagada SP Asish Kumar Singh during which he reportedly gave information about his associate Sunabhanja, who too was nabbed.

Siba, hailing from Sanabudahada village in Bisamcuttack block, told police that he came in contact with Sunabhanja of Kotogarh in Kandhamal two years back.

Sunabhanja, an active member of the Maoist group lured Siba and got him involved him in the radical work. Police also seized leaflets, literature and banners from them.

The two were wanted in connection with several offences, including the murder of Santosh, a former Naxalite, who was killed on December 22 last.