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Bhubaneswar, Feb 10 (IANS) Human rights activist Dandapani Mohanty, who was arrested Friday in Odisha for his alleged links with the Maoists, has been charged with sedition, a police officer said Sunday. "Mohanty has been charged with sedition and waging war against the state," police officer C.S. Meena told IANS. Mohanty had negotiated with the Maoists and helped the Odisha government to resolve two abduction crises - one of a district collector in Malkangiri in 2011 and another of two Italians in Kandhamal district last year. Meena said Mohanty was also charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Police arrested Mohanty from his home in Berhampur town, about 180 km from here, saying that at least six non-bailable warrants were pending against him. He was found to be involved in more than a dozen criminal cases mostly related to Left-wing violence, including murder, blast, abduction and rioting, police said. Mohanty, who is an elderly communist leader known for his fight on human rights related issues, has been critical of the government's functioning.
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