At least ten Maoists were killed in an encounter with police in the forest areas of Bijapur district on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border early on 2 March, a senior official of the Telangana Police told ANI.
Greyhounds constable Sushil Kumar was also killed during the joint operation by the Telangana and Chhattisgarh Police in the Pujari Kanker forest under Pamed police station area.
Acting on an intelligence report, the personnel of Greyhounds went 35 km into neighbouring Chhattisgarh and launched an operation on the Maoist camp, officials of the Telangana Police told The Economic Times.
Six women were among the rebels killed in the encounter, Hindustan Times reported.
The Chhattisgarh Police has identified two of the dead Naxals as Sanjeev, a “deputy commander”, and a woman named Pedda Budri.
Economic Times reported that both were part of the protection team of Hari Bhushan, secretary of the Maoists’ Telangana state committee. The remaining bodies are yet to be identified and it is still not confirmed whether Hari Bhushan is among the dead, police officials have said.
It was a joint operation by the Chhattisgarh and Telangana Police. Initial reports indicate ten Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire between them and police at around 6.30 am in Bijapur district.Mohit Garg, Bijapur SP.
The Hindu reported that the Maoist party’s Khammam-Karimnagar-Waragal (KKW) secretary Bade Chokka Rao alias Damodar is among the slain Maoists. He carried a reward of Rs 30 lakh on his head and was accused of involvement in over 50 criminal cases.
Police recovered an AK-47, an SLR rifle, five INSAS rifles, one .303 rifle, a pistol, a wireless set, three laptops, detonators, Rs 40,000 in cash and Maoist literature from the site.
Reports also suggest that the death toll of Naxals killed may rise.
On 19 January, 20 Naxals and two security personnel were killed in a similar encounter in the Sukma district of Chattisgarh.
(This is a developing story and will be updated)
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