Pune: Two Maoist leaders from Kerala have been arrested in Pune by the Maharashtra police on Saturday.
Informed sources said the arrested Maoists are Murali Kannamballi and P.P Ismail.
Murali Kannamballi, hailing from Irumbanam in Ernakulam, was an active member of the Naxalite movements during the Emergency periods. Ismail is a native of Pandikkad in Malappuram.
In a major breakthrough, five suspected Maoists including Kerala's most wanted Roopesh were arrested in Coimbatore by the Andhra Pradesh Police last week.
State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the arrest of Naxal activists, including their top leadership, would put an end to the extremists' move in Kerala.
Roopesh heads the Maoist Wing in Kerala and is in-charge of the Western Ghats zone of the Communist Part of India (Maoist). Roopesh is believed to be the mastermind behind the recent attacks in Palakkad and Wayanad districts of Kerala and has about 24 cases registered against him under UAPA, arms act and unlawful assembly.