Police arrest two Maoists in Orissa's Malkangiri District

Malkangiri (Orissa), Jan.30 (ANI): Police have confirmed the arrest of two suspect Maoists from a forest in Orissa's Malkangiri District.

The arrests took place on Sunday.

The duo have been identified as Pabitra Nayak alias Pati and Bhagaban Bhumia alias Deba, were nabbed during a combing operation in Rajgiri Forest based on intelligence input.

The security forces also recovered some arms and ammunition from the rebels.

The Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly a third of the country in its violent tentacles, spreading into the interiors of 20 of India's 28 states. This comes despite strong measures initiated by the government in eradicating the ultras.

The Maoists claim that they are fighting for the rights of exploited tribals, marginal peasants and landless labourers, and blame the federal government for doing little for the welfare of poor downtrodden people, particularly in the tribal regions.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has termed left-wing extremism as 'a bigger challenge than terrorism'. (ANI)