Bangalore: Pakistan's ISI Using Underworld to Woo Naxals

BANGALORE, Aug 14 (Agenices): pseudoNaxal gang, busted by Hyderabad police, has revealed that Pakistan's InterServices Intelligence (ISI) is trying to establish contact with CPI (Maoist).

Police arrested six people, including two from Karnataka and four from Andhra, including a Telugu Yuvatha (TDP youth wing) leader. The four were set to leave for Dubai to "establish ties" between Maoists and underworld don Chhota Shakeel's aides.

Though the intention of the four was to make a fast buck and go on a foreign junket, the attempt by the Shakeel gang to contact Maoists at the behest of the ISI has come as a surprise.

Vinay Kumar, Devaiah

It was the arrest of key accused Vinay of Arkalgud, in Bangalore that led to the arrest of the four. Vinay's aide, P Subbaiah Devaiah, from Kodagu and living in RT Nagar, was also arrested. An FIR was filed in Cottonpet police station.

The main accused, Altaf alias Rakesh from Mangalore, having links with the Shakeel gang is said to be in Dubai.

One of the arrested, Pasham Sridhar met Vinay, who told him he could make money if he carried out work entrusted by his friend Altaf. Sridhar called his friends and later Sarat Chandra, another of the arrested, was made to talk to Altaf. He introduced himself as "Maoist leader RK." Altaf sent him Rs 25 lakh, tickets and visas for the Dubai visit.