Six Maoist sympathisers held for Dantewada massacre
By IANSMonday, May 24, 2010
RAIPUR - Six Maoist sympathisers, including a self-styled Maoist commander Barsa Lakhma, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the massacre of 76 security personnel April 6 in Dantewada in Chhattisgarh, police said Monday.
“The police party raided Kottabura village, about 4 km from Chintalnar (where the attack took place), after getting information that the rebels were camping there,” Dantewada Superintendent of Police Amresh Mishra said.
Besides the self-styled commander, the others arrested have been identified as Oyam Hidma, Podiyami Hidma, Kawasi Budra, Oya Ganga and Dura Joga.
Mishra said they belonged to the Jan Militia (army of villagers) and not the hardcore cadre of Maoists.
The six arrested were, however, part of the 100 militia members that assisted about 190 Maoists in the attack in which 75 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and one state police constable were killed, Mishra said.
Mishra, quoting Barsa Lakhma, said the CRPF men had lost a wireless set in the area and when they launched a massive search to recover it, they walked into the ambush zone.
