The Hindu : Three naxals killed in encounter

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 21, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Three naxals killed in encounter

By Ravi Reddy

MANALA (Nizamabad dt.) JAN. 20. In yet another set-back to the banned People's War, three naxalites, including a Division Committee member, were killed in an exchange of fire with the police in a dense forest abutting this highly naxal-infested village under Kammarpalli police station limits, 115 km from the district headquarters, on Monday morning.

What is seen as a severe blow to the underground outfit, the Nizamabad Division Committee member, Mekala Mallesh alias Bhaskar (30), the Kathlapur LGS deputy commander, Golla Ravi alias Santosh, besides a woman cadre, Vadla Sujata alias Navatha, were slain in the encounter, while three others, including a woman naxal, managed to flee into the forest abandoning their kit bags and weapons.

Bhaskar belongs to Mothukuraopet village in Korutla mandal, Ravi to Arepalli and Sujata to Yellampet village, both of Machareddy mandal.

The Superintendent of Police, Shankha Brata Bagchi, the Additional SP (Operations), Vikram Singh Mann, the Armoor DSP, Viswanatham, and Bheemgal CI, Ghouse Mohiuddin, visited the spot.

It appears to be a chance encounter as a 20-member police party has been combing the Manala reserve forest during the last two days. One naxal, who saw the police party, alerted other members.

They took position and started firing at the police following which the latter returned the fire.

The exchange of fire lasted 30 minutes. The naxals were taken aback by the sudden appearance of the police party. Golla Ravi was the first to fall to the bullets.

Bhaskar, who was a few metres behind Ravi, collapsed after being hit by a bullet. Sujatha made a vain bid to escape through a small rivulet into the nearby forest, but died after a bullet pierced into her mouth.

The police recovered four weapons, including one SLR carried by Bhaskar. The other weapons included two 303 rifle and a 410 musket. Fifteen live rounds besides six kit bags were also recovered.

Bhaskar, who carried a reward of Rs. 2 lakhs on his head, was one of the seniormost cadres of the PW in the Karimnagar west area which comes under Nizamabad Division Committee. He has been working for the PW for the last 12 years, covering Jagtial, Korutla, Metpalli, Sircilla and Bheemgal areas. After the merger of Sircilla, Jagtial and Metpalli squads with Bheemgal LGS, the naxals were moving together.

Golla Ravi was the deputy commander of the Kathlapur LGS while Sujata was member of the Bheemgal-Sircilla LGS and the daughter of a former sarpanch of Yellampet village of Machareddy mandal of Nizamabad district.

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