Top PWG leaders injured in exchange of fire

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD, MARCH 9. Three top leaders of the People's War Group including Pulluri Prasad Rao alias Chandranna, incharge of the People's Guerilla Army covering Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar west committees, is suspected to have sustained injuries in an exchange of fire with the police in Gangapur forest area of Adilabad district on Tuesday.

Confirming the injuries to the PWG leaders, the Adilabad SP, Mr. Sandeep Shandilya, told The Hindu on Friday evening that information received by them indicated that the three top leaders, Chandranna, Seshanna alias Gundeti Shankar, member, North Telangana Special Zone Committee (NTSZC) and Radhakka, district committee member of Indravelli area, were hurt in the exchange of fire. The injuries to the three naxal leaders were not of a grave nature.

A special police party combing the Gangapur forest reportedly came across naxalites leading to the exchange of fire. The police party was combing the area on information that some naxal movement was on. In fact, it was only after the exchange of fire that the police on searching the area came to know that the Adilabad - 2 military platoon, members of the Boath, Kuntala, Indravelli and Singapur dalams, numbering about 40 were camping in the forest.

Chandranna and Seshanna sustained splinter injuries caused by the explosion of a claymore mine intended for the police personnel combing the area. The SP said the naxals on seeing the police had triggered a claymore mine which accidentally backfired causing injuries to Chandranna and Seshanna who were believed to be retreating from the area. In the ensuing exchange of fire, Radhakka was reportedly injured. The injured naxals are understood to have been rushed to Maisampet village in Kadam mandal but could not find any help. The naxals then are learnt to have shifted them to some other area.

The military platoon members and the dalams had held a meeting coinciding with the World Women's Day on March 6 itself instead of March 8 somewhere in Allampalli area. However, reports appeared in the newspapers saying that the meeting was held in Jodeghat forest of Kerameri mandal. The police started the combing operation based on some information about naxal movement leading to exchange of fire in Gangapur forest area on Tuesday. The SP and the Nirmal Additional SP, Mr. Palaraju, visited the scene of exchange of fire.

Though the incidents of exchange of fire in Adilabad district are few, this one has come as a morale-booster for the police force, which is already elated at the increasing surrenders. Incidentally, this the first exchange of fire involving the military platoon - 2 of Adilabad district.

After the formation of the People's Guerilla Army, certain changes have been brought in the organisational set-up. Sources said that the PGA had been made into two zones - one covering Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar west committees and headed by Chandranna and the other for Warangal, Karimnagar East and Khammam committees. There are two military platoons for Adilabad district and one for Nizamabad-Karimnagar West committees, while four military platoons have been formed for Warangal, Khammam and Karimnagar East committees which would be headed by Jampanna.

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Section  : Southern States
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