Maoist top leader Sriramula Srinivas alias Sudarshan, who was arrested at Wyra in Khammam district on Saturday, was presented before the media on Sunday.

Later he was produced before the magistrate. Superintendent of Police of Khammam Ranganath said Sudarshan wanted in many cases including the killing of former Andhra Home Minister A Madhava Reddy and carrying a reward of Rs 20 lakh on him.

Srinivas was released from jail in exchange of the release of then Malkangiri Collector R Vineel Krishna, who was taken hostage by Maoists and later let off in Odisha in 2011. A key leader of the Andhra Orissa Border (AOB) special zonal committee, 55-year-old Srivinas sustained bullet injury on his leg.

Police had intensified checking in the area after Sudarshan had escaped during vehicle checking operation on Friday. Sudarshan, who had fled inside Wyra village, attacked villagers with stones after some of them spotted him yesterday. A police team went to the spot after locals alerted them. Sudarshan continued hurling stones on them also in order to flee, but police fired one round on his left leg and immediately caught hold of him, the SP said.

A native of Nalgonda district, Sudarshan had been involved in Naxal activities and wanted in several offences committed in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha over the past over 25 years. Sudarshan is undergoing treatment for the bullet injury sustained on his lower part of the leg. Later, he was produced before the magistrate who remanded him to judicial custody.

-Sakshipost