New Delhi:Â Â A law graduate wanted in 20 criminal cases and his wife are among five top Maoists arrested in Tamil Nadu on Monday in what is being described as a major breakthrough for the police of four southern states.
Roopesh and his wife Shyna are from Kerala and have evaded arrest for over 10 years, the police said late last night.
They were arrested in a joint operation by the police of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Sources say they were having coffee inside a bakery at a village near Coimbatore when the police surrounded them.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said this was a “big breakthrough” and was a result of coordinated efforts by four state governments.
Intelligence sources say Roopesh and Shyna have been heading the Maoist movement in Kerala for years and are key strategists in an armed struggle in the region. Roopesh was allegedly heading the South Indian Regional Committee of Maoists.
Besides law, Roopesh has also trained in IT. He is believed to have joined mainstream Maoist activities through the CPI (ML) students’ wing. His wife is a former Kerala High Court employee, said intelligence officials.
Others arrested on Monday night are Anup from Kerala, Veeramani from Karnataka and Kannan from Tamil Nadu.
The police will investigate the role of the alleged Maoists in at least three attacks in Kerala, in which two prominent eateries and a government office were vandalised.
They will be taken to Kerala for further questioning on the way to Andhra Pradesh.