Maoist leader’s wife held in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR - Saswati Das, wife of Orissa’s most wanted Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, was Friday arrested from here, police said.

Maoist literature and leaflets were recovered from Saswati Das alias Mili Panda, Inspector General of Police (Operation) Sanjeev Marik told IANS.

“She was looking after media and publicity of the Maoist outfit,” he said.

Panda is the head of Bansadhara division of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). The division is responsible for all Maoist activities in Orissa.

A police officer said the outfit led by Panda was involved in hundreds of crimes, including killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in 2008.