Bhilai, Dec 23: In a significant development in the state’s anti-naxal operations, Police have succeeded in apprehending a hardcore naxal who holds the status of ‘National Coordinator’ of the banned Maoist organization. The arrested red-rebel works as an officer in a Central Government department. He is considered to be a significant link in the Urban Network of the naxals.
Addressing media persons here at 32-Bungalows on Sunday, IGP (Durg Range) GP Singh informed that the arrested naxal is identified as Nakka Venkat Rao alias Murty Venkat Rao (54) son of Saheb Venkat Rao a resident of village Kuttaped, District – East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. He works at the capacity of Senior Technical Officer in National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, which is a central government organization. Naxal literature and books; 2 nos Manpack Sets (HTRF) with charger (wireless set); 23 nos detonators and a mobile phone were recovered from his possession.
IG Singh further stated that they had been receiving intelligence inputs regarding the underground urban network of the naxals which provides support of arms and ammunition & logistics to the red-rebels in the jungles. The surrendered naxals had also given vital information regarding this urban network. Considering the fact, police was making efforts to collect further information regarding this urban network and make efforts to curb it. A special technical team was constituted for the purpose under the leadership of SP Rajnandgaon KL Kashyap and ASP (Naxal Operations) YP Singh. In this sequel, police received tip off regarding the visit of a Naxal National Coordinator called as Murty who was to deliver some items to MMC (Madhya Pradesh – Maharashtra – Chhattisgarh) Zone Central Committee member Deepak Teltumde. Police also got information that the National Coordinator Murty generally travels on bike. Acting on this tip off, police intensified checking in the sensitive areas. In this sequel, Police succeeded in intercepting and apprehending Nakka Venkat Rao check-post near Chabuknullah Turning in Baghnadi Police Station area of Rajnandgaon.
Police recovered objectionable items from his possession and during sustained interrogation he confessed involvement in the naxal activities. Murty disclosed that he got influenced with the Maoist ideology when he was studying in Polytechnic College in Warangal. He joined a banned Radical Students’ Union of Andhra Pradesh and became a member of the Maoist organization in 1985. He further disclosed to have conducted meeting for three days in 2016 at Kauruwa Jungles of Tanda area Central Committee members Deepak and Devji. He frequently visited other naxal infested areas and conveyed the coordinated information, messages and instructions to them. He also provided logistics support in the Guerilla Zone. He also played vital role in provoking people’s movements and giving them permanent nature in different areas. He was involved in the Farmers Movement, Narmada Bachao Andolan, Dalit movements; protests against Mandla- Chutka Nuclear Project; Elgar Parishad (Bhima Koregaon); movement against Special Economic Zone, etc.
His second wife Hemlalita is an advocate in Andhra Pradesh and runs a NGO named ‘Upkar’. His younger brother Narayan Rao is also influenced with the Maoist ideology and is the General Secretary of Telangana State Committee of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). Murty further disclosed that the wireless sets and other items recovered from his possession were provided by his younger brother.
The arrested Maoist further disclosed that at his workplace (NGRI), he was authorized to make official communications with Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) for transportation of the explosives for departmental purposes. It is suspected that he misused his position for providing benefit to the naxals. He remained under camouflage and misused his influence and position for providing arms-ammunition and logistics support to the banned naxal organization.