Maoist hideout busted in Noida, 6 held

Noida/New Delhi: A joint team of the Uttar Pradesh anti-terrorist squad and Intelligence Bureau claimed to have picked up an area commander of the banned CPI (Maoist) and five of his associates from an apartment in Noida’s Hindon Vihar on the basis of an intelligence input.

Sources said the group had allegedly been using the

hideout

since 2012. The Maoist area commander, Pradeep Kumar Singh of Latehar, carries a reward of Rs 5 lakh, police sources said, and were planning an ATM heist in NCR to raise funds. The sources said Kumar is also a bomb-making expert and was a major catch for the security agencies.

The six were arrested from Flat No 102, B- 23, on the second floor, where they were allegedly hiding for the past six months.

Asim Arun, inspector general, ATS, confirmed the arrests. He said the police had found six weapons in their possession and a WagonR. Local residents people said around 9.30 pm, a team of commandos surrounded the building. Three of the suspects tried to flee but were apprehended. Police did not reveal the names of the five others arrested but said Kumar had called them from Latehar.

Chaudhury Veerpal Singh, a local resident, said police and commandos had been spotted in the neighbourhood for a few days. The four-storey apartment is owned by a person called Venu, who lives in Indirapuram. He rented the flat to Kumar, a police officer said. The guard at the apartment said two persons lived in the flat for and the others visited frequently. When TOI contacted Venu, he refused to comment.

Sarat, a local shopkeeper, said the arrested men visited his shop regularly.

“They bought milk and other goods and identified themselves as students. We had no idea that they are Maoists,” he said.

A number of local residents gathered outside the house when the raids took place. Officials said they would give an official briefing on Sunday.


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