200 Maoists took part in 3-day training

The NIA said they plan to seek custody of the two to show them photographs of top Naxal leaders who may have taken part in the attack. It is also learnt to have detained a few suspects in Chhattisgarh who are being questioned.

Malkangiri SP Akhileshwar Singh said at least 200 Maoists took part in a three-day training at Kirtipalli village. Kunjam and Madhi told the the police that after the training,the group was divided into four sub-groups who walked to the Tulsi Dongar area separately. “The groups met at a particular point where 12-13 from Orissa stayed back. The rest walked for two days to reach the site of the ambush. After the ambush,the others came back and met the Maoists of Orissa. Thereafter,they dispersed,” said Singh. Kunjam and Madhi,however,could not see clearly how the Congressmen were killed. The SP said that they recalled seeing the blast and also heard “firing”.

Orissa DGP Prakash Mishra told The Indian Express,“We have arrested two Naxals and informed the NIA.” Preliminary questioning revealed there were 30 cadres from Orissa who took part in the attack while the rest were from Chhattisgarh,he said. The police in Malkangiri were on the lookout for Kunjam and Madhi in connection with an IED haul.