Maoist arrested in CM's home district

Police have arrested 65-year-old suspected Maoist Lajpat Rai from Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal's home district, Muktsar. Wanted by the Phillaur Police, Rai was arrested from his native town, Muktsar.

Police have arrested 65-year-old suspected Maoist Lajpat Rai from Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal's home district, Muktsar.

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Wanted by the Phillaur Police, Rai was arrested from his native town, Muktsar.

"Rai was wanted by the Muktsar Police in a case registered against him in 2009 for his involvement in Maoist activities," Muktsar senior superintendent of police Indermohan Singh said.

"Our job was just to arrest him and hand him over to Phillaur Police. We have also seized some literature from his house. We will examine if this literature is objectionable."

"Rai was known as KD and Manvir in Maoist circles," Indermohan said. "He used to come to his Muktsar home secretly. We arrested him when he visited his house on Thursday."

Rai's family has alleged that security agencies were harassing them for one year. They have alleged that in reply to the Right to Information Act inquiry, Muktsar Police had confirmed that there was no case pending against him, but now they have arrested him in a case dating back to 2009.

Known for his Leftist ideology, Rai was state committee member of Jamhori Adhikar Sabha, Intellectual Forum Manch and Lok Sangram Manch.

Rai had earlier moved the Punjab and Haryana High court and Human Rights Commission against the security agencies to escape arrest.