Maoist leader Roopesh to be taken to Coimbatore

KOZHIKODE: The police team produced Maoist leader Roopesh in the principal sessions court here on Saturday and took him to Coimbatore central prison as the evidence gathering procedures in two cases involving him were completed. The police team included thunderbolt commandos and anti-terrorist squad.

It may be recalled that Judge T.S.P. Moosath granted the petition of the state police on Wednesday seeking the custody of Roopesh for four  days. Roopesh was brought to Kozhikode from Coimbatore by a special police team headed by ASP R. Karuppasami and also escorted by the Thunderbolt commandos. Roopesh was taken to Valayam police station to gather evidence.

He will be taken to Vilangad tribal settlement near Valayam where a five-member Maoist team distributed pamphlets. The Valayam police had registered a case under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the incident. Police would gather evidence from tribal community members residing in Vilangad, Panniyeri and Kuttalloor tribal settlements on the activities of Roopesh on Thursday.

Roopesh and his wife Shyna have more than 15 cases registered in the Malabar region. Both are accused in major cases like the Vellamunda encounter between Thunderbolt commandos and Maoists, attack against a private resort in Tirunelli and attack on quarries in Vadakara and Kannur.