Maoist leader Vikram arrested

Hyderabad: Mahbubnagar police took top Maoist leader Vikram alias Daramoni Srinu into custody on Sunday following a search in the Nallamalla forests. Vikram, who was the main accused in several cases in Mahbubnagar, Kurnool and Prakasam districts, was also the prime accused in the murder of Maisigandi temple president and tribal leader, Panthunaik.

However, the police is yet to make an official arrest and is tight lipped about the raid details. On June 24 three Maoists were killed in an encounter in the Nallamalla forests of Guntur and Prakasam district. However, Vikram who is a native of Mahbubnagar managed to escape. In the encounter Maoists of Mahbubnagar - Nagamma alias Rajita, Bharatakka and her husband John Babu Rao were killed. A police team under the supervision of Mahbubnagar SP Nagender Kumar continued combing since then. After the bifurcation with reports of Maoist activity increasing in both states, the police had begun combing in the Nallamalla forests. The Mahbubnagar police is likely to produce Vikram before court in two days.