The anti-Naxal squad of the Gadchiroli police has arrested a dreaded Naxal commander who was in several gun battles with the police and has many murder and other serious offences registered against him.
The commander was involved in training and recruiting youth into Naxal activities, and was nabbed after the police received a tip-off that he was to visit a village to buy groceries and other daily supplies.
“We had received information that the commander Somji alias Soma Aitu Made, 30, was going to visit Rajaram (Khandla) village on Saturday to buy groceries and some medicines for injured members of his dalam.
Accordingly, the anti-Naxal squad laid a trap there,” said Shriganesh Kangude, inspector, Gadchiroli police. According to Kangude, Made is from Paraynaar in Bijar taluka in Dantewada zilla, and joined the Naxals in 2005.
“Since January 2006, he had worked in Aheri, Perimili and Bhamargad dalams. He rose in the ranks quickly and became a deputy commander of Platoon number 14 of the Naxalites,” he said, adding that soon after, he was made commander of the Aheri Militia dalam.