Maoist killed in Chhattisgarh encounter

The Chhattisgarh police on Monday said they had killed a Maoist in an exchange of fire in Bijapur district of Bastar.

A statement issued by the Anti-Naxal Operations (ANO) unit of the Chhattisgarh police said a joint party of DRG (District Reserve Guard), the CRPF’s CoBRA team and policemen from Gangaloor was on combing operation in the Pedia area of Bijapur three days ago. There was local intelligence about a Naxal training camp in that area. The Maoists attacked the joint team on Sunday near Pedia village and the personnel effectively retaliated. The Maoists fled after heavy firing for about 30 minutes.

The ANO unit said a body of uniformed Maoist was recovered on Monday.

“Some more Maoists were reportedly injured in the exchange of fire. A 12 bore rifle, 10 cells, and other Maoist material were recovered from the encounter spot,” the statement said.

The deceased Maoist was identified as Sukhram Lekam alias Sukku.

The ANO unit said: “Sukku was Janatana Sarkar president of Maoists in Pedia. This is the first time the security forces have successfully recovered a Maoist body from Pedia, a core hideout area of Maoist commanders like Ganesh Uike.”