Four Maoists Killed in Encounter with Gadchiroli Police

Hyderabad/Adilabad: Four Maoists from Telangana state, carrying a reward of `36 lakh on their heads, were killed in an alleged crossfire between the special forces of Maharashtra in Gadchiroli district, police said on Tuesday. The dead included two divisional committee members.

The encounter that lasted for over three fours in the Kolamarka hills area, 5 km south west of Repannpalli, occurred early on Tuesday.

The operation was based on inputs by the TS Special Investigation Branch (SIB) to the TS-Maharastra border forces on Monday that the Maoists had entered Gadchiroli district by crossing the Pranahita river to carry out subversive activities in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.

Multiple teams of the C-60 force, comprising the Central Reserve Police Force’s Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), were deployed in the area, Gadchiroli police superintendent Nilotpal said.

One of the C-60 teams came upon the Maoists in the Kolamarka mountains near Repanpalli on Tuesday morning. The Maoists opened fire at them, to which the police retaliated.

After the firing ended, police said they searched the forest and found the bodies of four men with a cache of arms and ammunition, including an AK-47, one carbine, two country-made pistols, and Maoist literature.

The district police suspect that some injured Maoists may have escaped after the encounter. The slain Maoists collectively carried a cash reward of `36 lakh that was declared by Maharashtra government.

Vargeesh, Komaram Bheem Mancherial divisional committee member and secretary of Mangi Indravelli area committee, Magtu, secretary of the Sirpur Chennur area committee, and platoon members Kursang Raju and Kudimetta Venkatesh.

The area has been cordoned off and search operations are underway. The C-60 teams were launched from the Aheri sub-police headquarters and were led by additional SP, operations, Yatish Deshmukh.