Maoist search: Hunter becomes the hunted

A recent attempt of the Delhi Police to arrest a suspected Maoist from south Delhi led to a bizarre turn of events in which two of their men were branded Maoists and even faced abduction charges.

A recent attempt of the Delhi Police to arrest a suspected Maoist from south Delhi led to a bizarre turn of events in which two of their men were branded Maoists and even faced abduction charges.

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The story goes thus: Two officers from the south district police went to arrest a suspected Maoist on Thursday following a tip-off. The suspect had reportedly taken shelter in a diary at Govindpuri.

The police picked up Ajay Kumar Singh (32), who is allegedly involved in many Maoist activities in Taryani area of Bihar, and Dinbandhu, who runs Safal Dairy, a Government of India enterprise, who sheltered him.

But in a strange turn of events the police officers, who had gone to arrest a suspected Maoist, were themselves branded as Maoists.

A senior south district police officer, who did not wish to be named, said, “Dinbandhu’s wife called the PCR and also her contacts in Bihar police and claimed that her husband and another person have been abducted by two Maoists.”

“Someone from Bihar police called up their counterpart in Delhi and got the case registered at Govindpuri police station.” The two officers were slapped with abduction charges.

Virendra Singh Chail, additional commissioner of police (southeast), said the abduction case against the two policemen was later cancelled.

On Friday, the Delhi police informed the Bihar Police about Singh, who was produced in a city court today.

Police said during his interrogation, Singh said he came to Delhi to take shelter at the dairy being run by Dinbandhu, who is their village head in Bihar.

“We have informed the Bihar police. They would take appropriate action,” said HGS Dhaliwal, deputy commissioner of police (south).

Another police officer said, “Since Dinbandhu runs a dairy endorsed by the government, it was easier for Singh to take shelter at his place. Dinbandhu was living in the city for quite some time and both of them belonged to the same native place.”

Dinbandhu was let off after questioning. The police said they may consider taking action against Dinbandhu only after getting in touch with Bihar Police.

This is not the first time that Maoists have been arrested in the city.

In September last year, Delhi Police arrested Kobad Ghandy, a top Maoist leader who was living in Badarpur area of southeast Delhi. Ghandy is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.

Another top Maoist leader, LSN Murthi (65) alias Krishna Rao, was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh police on March 22. He was living in Delhi for the past several years on a fake name in Basant Gaon area of south Delhi.