Punjab police book Maoist leader Kobad Ghandy

PATIALA - Four months after Delhi Police arrested Maoist leader Kobad Ghandy, Punjab police have also registered a case against him, an official said Monday.

According to the police, they received information from intelligence agencies that Ghandy had stayed here and was seen inside the premises of Panjab University a few months before his arrest.

Following this, police registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (prevention) Amendment Act, 2008, and under various other sections of the Indian Penal Code against Ghandy and his accomplice Manoj aka Rajesh.

Ghandy was arrested in Delhi in September 2009.

“We have got information that Ghandy had stayed in Patiala before his arrest. Now we are trying to find out the motive behind his stay and unearth any links that he might have established in Punjab,” R.S. Khatra, senior superintendent of police of Patiala, told IANS.

He added, “We are also trying to ascertain the exact duration of his stay in Patiala and about the details of his companion Manoj. Our investigation in connection with this case is still under process.”

Ghandy is a politburo member of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist and worked for the party in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh.

A few weeks ago, Punjab police chief P.S. Gill admitted in a press conference that Maoist leaders were active in the state and were trying to garner the support of locals.

Patiala town is around 70 km from state capital Chandigarh.