Police zero in on Maoist sympathisers

PARADIP: The Jagatsinghpur police has identified over 25 Maoist sympathisers in Ersama and Balikuda areas of the district.Although the ultras were operating in these areas for some time, no steps had been taken by police to find out about their base.But the Nayagarh mayhem and the subsequent combing peration at Sambalpur made the district police alert. This apart, a lady Maoist cadre Manju Muduli alias Rina belonging to Janakeideipur village under Ersama police limits was arrested by Bhanjanagar police after the Nayagarh incident.The police team from Jagatsinghpur, which went to Bhanjanagar to interrogate Rina, got information about several Naxal cadres and sympathisers in Ersama and Balikuda areas.Police also verified the names of about 40 to 50 young girls and boys, whom they had listed as suspected Maoists ympathisers, with Rina.SP R K Sharma said police have identified a number of Maoists in Balikuda and Ersama areas but added that there were no plans to arrest them."We will convince them not to indulge in such activities," he said.