Senior PWG leader Mallaraja Reddy and his wife Suguna, who were dramatically arrested by Andhra Pradesh police from Angamaly near Kochi on Monday, were remanded in police custody on Wednesday.

The 56-year-old Reddy who was reportedly evading the police for 30 years shouted pro-Naxalite slogans when he was brought to the first class judicial magistrate court at Aluva. He said that he had come to the State to “lead the revolution that is coming to Kerala” and that he would continue to be a Maoist. Reddy is suspected to be involved in the murder of former speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Sripada Rao as well as 42 other cases of murder, mine blasts and attacks on police stations in that state. Reddy would be released to Andhra police after the remand period is over.

The senior CPI (Maoist) leader and his wife were caught from a dwelling of migrant leaders stationed in Aluva without the knowledge of the local police. The Andhra police came to the area in disguise acting on a tip-off.

The Andhra Pradesh Government had declared a reward of Rs 12 lakh on Malla Raja Reddy’s head. Following the arrest, the State police have launched a crackdown on Naxalite outfits in the State. Three Maoist activists were arrested by Tamil Nadu police from the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border of Theni after an encounter. Police also picked up the editor of a magazine published from Kochi for questioning.