Ranchi, Aug 25 - Ranchi Police Tuesday confirmed that they have arrested two top Maoist leaders. The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) had called a two-day shutdown in five states to demand the release of the two leaders.

'Two top Maoist leaders were arrested Monday evening from the Ranchi railway station. The arrested Maoist leaders are Amitabh Bagchi alias Anil and Taufid Mullah alias Kartik,' Deputy Inspector General of Police (Ranchi range) R.K. Mallik told reporters here Tuesday evening.

He denied that the two were arrested Aug 19 as claimed by the outlawed CPI-Maoist. Anil is a politburo member and Kartik, a state committee member of the CPI-Maoist.