Top Maoist leader killed in encounter

The banned CPI (Maoist) received another jolt when a member of its east division committee Azad (Gopal) was killed in an encounter with the a police party that was on a combing operation, near Palasamudram under Mampa police station limits in Koyyuru mandal on Wednesday evening.

Superintendent of Police Koya Praveen said Azad’s body was identified by the police party. An AK 47 weapon was recovered. Identity of the other two Maoists killed in the encounter has not been established yet. Azad reportedly carried a reward of Rs. 4 lakh on his head.

The death of Azad in an encounter came in less than one month after Kudumula Ravi (Venkata Ramana), member of the party’s central regional committee who was responsible for many of Maoist party’s attacks, died of jaundice at a city hospital. Death of two leaders in a short span of time has dealt a big blow to the party which is struggling to retain its hold in the Agency.

The spot where the encounter has taken place is close to East Godavari border and incidentally the Maoist party has given a call for bandh on Wednesday and Thursday in the Chintoor area which was recently merged with East Godavari, and Khammam districts in protest against Green Hunt operation and demanding compensation to those to be displaced under the Polavaram project.

This is the second encounter in Visakha Agency during this year. In late February two Maoists were killed near Revulakota, which is also under Mampa police station limits, but Human Rights Forum has hotly contested the police version saying that the two dead were hunters from Odisha who went deep into the forest in Andhra area and were killed by the police.

This area is said to be a sort of safe zone as it is very difficult for the police to trek into the area and the Maoists also take shelter here.