Nagpur: Two alleged members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) were killed in a gun battle with the police in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Sunday.
“An exchange of fire took place between Maoists and a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF) of the Chhattisgarh police near Kasaram village within the Kistaram police station limits. Two Maoists were killed and their bodies recovered along with weapons,” said Devnath, Assistant Inspector General of Police from the Anti-Naxal Operation (ANO) unit of the Chhattisgarh police.
The Maoists were identified as Podiyam Sunna, Maoists militia platoon deputy commander, and Vanjam Hunga, a member of the small action team of the Maoists’ platoon number 8 in Sukma. The police recovered one pistol and one locally-made gun.
The encounter broke out when the joint team of the DRG and the STF was out for an anti-Maoist operation in the area surrounding Kistaram where the Maoists’ military battalion headed by commander Hidma operates.
In a separate incident, the Maharashtra police destroyed a Maoist camp on the border of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, and recovered weapons and horses.
“A special team headed by Additional Superintendent of Police (operations) Maheshwar Reddy launched an anti-Maoist operation in Abujhmad on the border of Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra and Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh. The encounter near Tundewra and Kupnar village forced the Maoists to flee leaving behind weapons and six horses. Six weapons and other material of daily use were also recovered at the camp site,” said the Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police in a release.
This was the first time when horses were found in a Maoist camp. “Senior Maoist leaders like Bhupathi operate in Abujhmad and the horses may have been used for senior leaders,” the release said.
