KOLLAM: Police has arrested two close associates of Maoist leader Roopesh and slapped them with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Police says the duo, Anandan, 50, Naithikalayam Veedu, Ookkam Mukku, Bharanikkavu, and Remanan alias Anil, 44, of Konathu Veedu, Karimthottuva, Sasthamkotta, had direct involvement in Nitta Gelatin office attack in Kochi.
They were arrested the other day tracing the SIM cards used by Roopesh, found to be purchased from a mobile shop in Bharanikkavu here. They procured them as per the instructions by Anoop, an aide of the ultra.
They collected photos and identity proofs from tribal women under the pretext of providing them with loans and purchased 20 SIM cards using them.
Roopesh contacted a weapon dealer in Coimbatore using one of these SIM cards.
“We address the issues faced by the common man and protecting Western Ghats was one such thing. For that people need to isolate companies like Nitta Gelatin. We are against the inequalities created by authorities,” Remanan told reporters justifying their act.
The two were members the CPI (ML) Red Flag since 2009 and their association with roopesh started in 2013.
Remanan told the police that he was part of group that attacked the Nitta Gelatin office in November. Anoop, who allegedly organised the attack, directed the gang “not to run after the attack but walk back with courage”.
Anandan was an active worker of Girivarga Vedar Sabha and former secretary of Sasthra Sahitya Parishad, Sasthamkotta Area. Remanan was an employee with a flex printing unit in Adoor.
