Suspected Naxalite held in Chennai

Chennai: Chennai police arrested a man suspected of being part of a terror group based in West Bengal in the early hours of Friday. Tamil Nadu 'Q' Branch sleuths and the city police are questioning the man, identified as Kandarpa Das (26) of Siliguri in Assam.

Police said Das worked as an assistant housekeeper at a private hospital on Nelson Manickham Road, Arumbakkam. Sources said that he had threatened some fellow staff members after a quarrel by claiming to be a terrorist.

Giving details, sources said Das was involved in a brawl with some employees from North India and shouted at them saying he was a Naxalite and that they should not trouble him. His co-workers were shocked on hearing this and reported the matter to the security supervisor who happens to be a retired police officer. When he was inquiring about the matter with Das, he threatened the security officer claiming that he is a militant.

The security officer alerted the city police. A team from the Anna Nagar police nabbed Das from his residence in Aminjikarai early on Friday.

They checked Das's phone and found a picture of him carrying a gun. Inquiries revealed that Das was a member of the outfit called Greater Coochbehar Liberation Organisation (GCLO), an extremist organisation active in West Bengal.

Sources said Das was earlier arrested in his native place for allegedly sending fake news on WhatsApp. Recently, he jumped bail, came to the city and took up a job.

Officials of the Special Investigation Division and Q Branch are questioning him.