Reports say most wanted Maoist couple held, cops deny development

Nagpur: The most sought after Maoist couple and seniormost leaders, Kiran Kumar alias Kiran dada and his wife Alluri Krishna Kumari alias Narmadaakka, are learnt to have landed in the net of Gadchiroli police but there has been no official confirmation of the fact so far.
The couple was mentored by slain Maoist leader Mallojula Koteshwar Rao alias Kishanji, who was gunned down at Jungle Mahal a few years ago after gaining nationwide fame with his interviews to media.
The couple, who had almost Rs40 lakh rewards on it, was also considered to be the mastermind of almost two decade-long violence in the district of Gadchiroli including the blast at Lendhari near Jambhulkheda on May 1 that had claimed lives of 15 jawans of Quick response team (QRT) along with one other person. Based in Maoist stronghold of Abhujamadh, a highly forested terrain straddling across Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, the couple had been supervising the rebel movements in two states.
Sources in the security agency stated that Narmada, a permanent member of Dandakaranya special zonal committee (DKSZC) and in-charge of south Gadchiroli division, had been unwell since last few years. Her ailment had almost crippled her since 2017.
Narmada and her husband Kiran, also a member of DKSZC and entrusted with the responsibility to supervise the Maoist movement in Gadchiroli, had landed up at Hyderabad for medical assistance. Following a tip-off, the couple was arrested from Hyderabad.
However, SP Gadchiroli Shailesh Balkawade has categorically denied any such development. “There would be official confirmation in case when some developments take place. Even I had come across some posts in social media referring to such arrests but there is nothing to confirm at this point of time,” he said.
Sources said there are numerous cases of violence, arson, murders, blasts and such activities against Kiran and Narmada. After their arrests, the couple have been brought to the Gadchiroli district where they have maximum offences registered against them.
Kiran, at present, was in-charge of the Maoists mouthpiece ‘Prabhat’ magazine, press and also propaganda wing of the movement. He used to control the operations from hideouts in Abhujamadh. Narmada, a former schoolteacher, was also the in-charge of Dandakaranya sub-committee and also Krantikari Adivashi Mahila Sangathan.
It’s learnt that the couple was responsible for the Maoist movement taking a belligerent turn in Gadchiroli under their leadership with both political and military gains. The ageing and ailing couple’s contribution to the movement of the banned party had started waning in the last few years as their movements had curtailed. In south Gadchiroli, Narmadaakka had been a popular figure among the tribal and she was instrumental in shaping up several women cadres into robust guerrilla fighters.