Alleged senior Naxal leader Arun Bhanudas Bhelke (38) and his wife Kanchan Ramkrushna Nanaware (31), who were arrested by the Pune Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), were handed over to the Gondia district police for further investigation and case hearings at the Gondia court.

Both the accused were produced in the special court of judge Mangala Dhote on Saturday.

A team from the ATS, along with Gondia police, were present in the court and requested that the duo be transferred to investigate Bhelke’s involvement in several other Maoist movement cases in Naxal-affected areas of Vidarbha.

Advocates Wajed Khan Bidkar and Surendra Gadling who are representing Bhelke, said, “We have not been updated why our clients have been transferred by the investigating agencies.”

A source from the ATS said, “The Gondia police will probably investigate the accused in connection with alleged Naxal leader Sudhir Dhawale. Dhawale is a Dalit activist and editor of the magazine, Vidrohi, which openly criticised the state in cases of social inequality. He was recently acquitted after spending over three years in jail.

The Bhelke couple was arrested on September 2 in Pune by the ATS and booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for their alleged involvement in Maoist activities.

http://www.punemirror.in/pune/crime/Bhelke-couple-handed-over-to-Gondia-police/articleshow/45596575.cms