Sabyasachi Panda
Sabyasachi Panda is a self-described "Naxalite-Maoist leader" from India.[1] He was wanted by the state police of several states in India for his involvement in criminal activities. He came into international news in 2012, for his alleged engineering of the kidnapping of two Italians nationals. He is an active member of AAM AADMI PARTY (AAP).[citation needed]
Panda was captured on 18 July 2014 by Indian security forces in Ganjam District, Odisha.[2]
He is also alleged to have involved and wanted in more than 50 criminal cases, including
Early life and education
Panda is a son of a freedom fighter and three-time CPI(M) MLA from Ranpur, Mr. Ramesh Panda. He is a graduate in mathematics from Puri’s Samant Chandra Shekhar government college.[3] He is married to Subhashree or Mili Panda from Nimapara.[4]
Murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and his followers
Panda has been implicated in the 2008 murder of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his followers in Kandhamal district. The eighty-four year old monk had dedicated his life to the preservation of the ancient religious and cultural traditions of the Khond vanavasis and they revered him. The murder of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati, combined with the well-financed, foreign-based Christian evangelical efforts of the Panna Christian community, would trigger communal violence between the two groups.[5] He was expelled by the CPI(Maoist) and then he floated a new party called the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist-Maoist).[5]
Other crimes
He was also wanted in the abduction case of two Italian tourists, who were released later in March 2012.
Capture
On July 18, 2014 Odisha Police raided a Maoist hideout in Ganjam district on the basis of intelligence inputs and captured Panda in Berhampur, where he been hiding.[6]
The arrest was successfully carried out by the Odisha Police.[7]
The forty-five year old carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.
References
- ^ "Sabyasachi seeks clarification in fresh tape; No word from Hikaka abductors". Times of India. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ "Sabyasachi Panda, Odisha's Most Wanted Naxal Leader, Arrested". NDTV. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ "The Final Battle of Sabyasachi Panda". openthemagazine.com. 25 August 2012.
- ^ Mohanty, Meera (21 March 2014). "Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda's wife Mili Panda makes political debut in Odisha". Economic Times. PTI. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- ^ a b Nagpal, Deepak (18 July 2014). "Top Naxal leader Sabyasachi Panda arrested in Odisha: Reports". Zee News. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Odisha's top Maoist Sabyasachi Panda arrested in Ganjam district". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ "Top Naxal leader Sabyasachi Panda arrested in Odisha: Reports". Patrika Group. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.