Two suspected members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) were killed in a gun battle with the police in restive Bastar region of Chhattisgarh on Monday night.
“An operation was launched on specific inputs (about Maoists) in Chandameta-Tulasidongari area on the night of July 27. The District Reserve Guard and the Special Task Force participated in the operation. The DRG-STF composite team exchanged fire with the Maoists four times during the operation and the Maoists also triggered an IED blast. The last exchange of fire took place on Monday night which resulted in the killing of two Maoists,” said Mr.S.R.P.Kalluri, the Inspector General (IG) of Police (Bastar range) in a statement.
Apart from two dead bodies of uniformed Maoists, the composite team also recovered explosives and many other items including two SBML rifles from the spot of the encounter.
“One dead Maoist was identified as Chandameta Jan militia commander of the Maoists Ganga. The other deceased is yet to be identified. He may be from Bijapur area,” the IG added.
Navin Das Baghel, who was killed by the Maoists on Monday on the suspicion of being a police informer, was reportedly mentally ill.
The Maoists had thrown Mr.Baghel’s dead body on Gangaloor road with a pamphlet listing allegations against him.
Mr.Baghhel had left his job at the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) in 2005 citing unstable mental condition and was not related to a police inspector posted in Bastar Mr.Surendra Baghel.
A resident of Upanpal village near Nagarnar town, he had gone missing on July 27.
