In a significant development, Maharashtra Police have arrested a dreaded Maoist, Peka Madi Pungati, who had a Rs 150 lakh reward on his head. The arrest was made near a traffic check post in Gadchiroli during a security blockade enforced by the CRPF and Bhamragad QRT teams.
The accused, Peka Madi Pungati, aged 42, was detained by security personnel after a tip-off about a suspicious person in the forests near the check post. Following interrogation, it was revealed that he was a wanted Maoist associated with a Jan Militia in the Gadchiroli jungles, leading to his arrest just days before the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.
Pungati’s involvement in various criminal activities, including the torching of vehicles, attacks on labourers, and the abduction and killing of a police constable, had led to the announcement of a bounty for his capture by the state government. He was actively involved in organizing Maoist activities, coercing villagers to attend meetings, and providing support for their operations.
Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Neelotpal emphasized the opportunity for Maoists to surrender and join the national mainstream, urging them to shun violence. Pungati’s arrest comes shortly after the Maharashtra Police’s elimination of four Maoists who had infiltrated from Telangana, underscoring the ongoing efforts to address Maoist activities in the region.
