Bhubaneswar, Sep 7 - Three Maoist rebels were arrested in Orissa Monday in two separate incidents, police said.

'Mala Madakami, who claims to be the area commander of Vansadhara division of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), was arrested during a combing operation by police in the southern district of Malkangiri,' a police officer said.

Madakami was involved in several crimes including the murder of a local leader.

In another incident, two other Maoists were arrested inside the Similipal biosphere reserve in Mayurbhanj district.

The two Maoists have been identified as Sushil Sayan and Pawal Hembram. They were involved in dozens of crimes in the district of Jajpur, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj, he said.

Maoists are active in more than half of the state's 30 districts.