Three in NIA net for luring youth to work with Maoists

● SHILPA’S HUSBAND Bandi Kiran condemned the NIA officials for conducting searches without an order. He said Shilpa was an advocate and had no links with the CMS or any organisation. The investigation agencies had deliberately named his wife and were hara

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested three persons — Dongari Devendra, the son of top Maoist leader Shanker, and women advocates Dubasi Swapna and Chukka Shilpa — in connection with the disappearance of a nursing student, Radha, from Visakhapatnam district.

They were said to be members of the Chaitanya Mahila Sangham (CMS) and were accused of recruiting youngsters for Maoists. Earlier, Shilpa was jailed for six months on charges of being an ‘urban Naxal.’

Early in the day, NIA officials raided the houses of Shilpa in Uppal, of Swapna at Parvathanagar of Medipally of Medchal district and Devendra and allegedly seized some incriminatory material.

Based on a complaint lodged by Radha’s mother Pallepati Pochamma, the Pedabayalu police of Visakhapatnam had registered a case a few months ago alleging that her daughter was kidnapped by CMS members. The case was re-registered by the NIA officials following the Union home ministry directions.

In the FIR, the NIA officials said that the three members of the CMS had recruited Radha for the Maoists “by inducing the ideology of CPI (Maoist) in her mind.” This, the NIA said, was a “terrorist act by giving support to the proscribed terrorist organisation.” The NIA said the trio had confined Radha in the interior forest areas.

The NIA alleged that CMS members had visited several schools, colleges and hostels and attracted students to join the Maoists.

Shilpa’s husband Bandi Kiran condemned the NIA officials for conducting searches without an order. He said Shilpa was an advocate and had no links with the CMS or any organisation. The investigation agencies had deliberately named his wife and were harassing her.