Cops want custody of ‘Naxalite’

The Gadchiroli police have decided to seek the custody of suspected Naxalite leader Surya Devra Prabhakar for his alleged involvement in several cases of murder and other offences.

The Anti Terrorism Squad arrested Prabhakar from Kanjurmarg on January 18. He has at least five offences registered against him in various police stations of Korchi in northern Gadhchiroli.

“We will seek his custody soon. He has been named in cases of murder, encounter and destruction of property,” said Jay Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Gadhchiroli.

Additional Suprintendent of Police, Manoj Sharma, said Prabhakar’s name also figures in an FIR related to the killing of a police informer. Naxalites had allegedly murdered Suresh Halami (30) in Irupdhodri village in October.

Sharma said Prabhakar was also involved in an encounter in Korchi before the Assembly polls.

Sources said Prabhakar’s names also figures the FIR related to encounter that took place in Bonde. He was also named as accused in burning down of a village panchayat building in the district, sources added.

“He was a member of the Maharashtra state committee, so he was involved in every thing that happened in the state,” said DIG (Naxal) Sunil Ramanand, rubbishing Prabhakar’s claims that he had distanced himself from the movement.

Prabhakar, during his stay in Surat, Gujarat, had tried to target and mobilise the workers employed in power loom and diamond industries.