One of the seven Maoists killed in an encounter with Maharashtra anti-Naxalite force in the Kalled forest area near Zinganur in Sironcha sub-division of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra on Wednesday is suspected to be Jadi Pushpa alias Balamma of Bellampally town in Mancherial district.
The Maharashtra police is yet to identify one of the seven fallen Maoists, who is being assumed to be the Maoist from Bellampally.
“We are assuming that Pushpa was killed in encounter as civil rights activists met her family members at Chandravelli village to condole her death,” revealed a source in the police department. “A positive identity would be established only after the Maharashtra police releases her details,” he added.
Pushpa, who is also known as Rajeshwari and Rajeshwarakka, joined the underground outfit about 20 years back. She was working in Dandakaranya area in Chattisgarh district and carried a SLR and a reward of ₹4 lakh.
The last time a Naxalite hailing from undivided Adilabad district got killed in an encounter in Gadchiroli district was when Athram Shobhan alias Charles in June 2016. He was Adilabad Divisional Committee member and had carried a reward of ₹4 lakh on his head.
Shobhan had joined the left wing extremist movement in 2004 and was accused in about 20 cases. He was active in the Mangi area in erstwhile Adilabad district before being slain.
