Maoist leader Ayyapan arrested

Palakkad: Maoist leader and an accused in the Attapadi-Kadukumanna shooting case Ayyapan has been arrested by Palakkad police.

A police team led by Agali DySP took Ayyapan into custody from Panniyurpadi at Chemmannur near Attapadi Monday night.

The police team reached Panniyurpadi following a tip-off about Ayyapan’s presence in the area. He has been on the run ever since the firing incident.

The Maoists exchanged fire with police personnel at Kadukumanna in Agali, a remote tribal area in Palakkad district on October 17.

The encounter took place when personnel of Thunderbolt, a special commando wing under Kerala Police and a team led by the Attapadi circle inspector, were conducting combing operations.

Although there were no casualties, a case was filed against five persons, including Ayyapan, and an investigation was launched to nab the accused.

According to sources, it was only recently Ayyapan, a native of Attapadi, joined a Moist-gang.