Koraput, April 07: Gashi alias Chenda Bhusanam, arrested by Koraput Police on Sunday, was one of the most ferocious killers churned out by the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and is believed to have murdered around two dozen men between 1991 and 1996 during which he was wanted in as many as 58 cases.
Andhra Pradesh was his hunting ground where he had unleashed a rein of terror in Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam (Rural) and Karimnagar.
“From the information gathered from Andhra Pradesh police so far, we’ve found that Chenda was booked in as many as 58 cases.
In close to 22 of them, he was wanted for murder,” DIG, South Western Range Saumendra Priyadarshi said.
Chenda confessed to at least four killings in Koraput alone in the last couple of years – that of tribal leader Arjun Kendruka, Zilla Parisad member Anand Kirsani, Rabi Khora and Puru Sirika.
Chenda was intercepted by a team of five officials led by the Koraput SP Anup Sahoo.
It was only during the interrogation the police realised how big a catch he was.
Andhra Pradesh police has sent a 13 member team to quiz him.
Once a member of the Andhra Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), Chenda led some of the most sensational operations of the Maoist party in Orissa including the attacks at Nayagarah armoury, R Udaygiri jail, Koraput armoury and Damanjodi hilltop unit of CISF.
“We seized a 0.9 mm Browning and 22 rounds from his possession. The pistol was looted when the Nayagarh armoury was attacked in 2008,” Priyadarshi said.
Also known as Khatru among the cadres, Chenda belonged to Malupali area under Visakhapatnam district.
He was a student activist and joined the Naxalism fold in early 1990s. He soon went on to be a member of AOBSZC but was demoted for his alleged womanising activities.
Police said he was involved in major violence in Andhra Pradesh during 1990s and mid 2007 but had eluded police so far. The AP police had announced a cash reward of Rs 12 lakh on Chenda’s head.
On Wednesday, he was produced before a court along with the three others who were arrested near Pendajam village on Sunday night.
Police have sought seven days remand for the dreaded Maoist.
–Agencies