Four Naxals with Rs 36 lakh reward on head shot dead in encounter in Gadchiroli

HYDERABAD: In a major setback to the outlawed CPI(Maoist), four Naxals were gunned down in an encounter with the police near Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra borders on Tuesday morning.

Police received credible information that a group of Naxals entered Gadchiroli by crossing the Pranahitha River from Telangana to participate in subversive activities during the MCC period of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

Anti-Naxal teams of C60 and CRPF QAT from Aheri Sub Police Headquarters led by Additional SP (Operations) Yatish Deshmukh launched search operations in the area. Naxals opened fire on one of the teams comprising of 4 C60 parties in Kolamarka mountains five km southeast of SPS Repanpalli which was retaliated strongly by the police.

After the firing seized the police searched the area and found the dead bodies of four male Naxals. They were identified as DVCM Vargeesh, secretary of Mangi Indravelli area committee and member of Kumuram Bheem Mancherial divisional committee, ⁠DVCM Magtu, Secretary of Sirpur Chennur area committee, and platoon members Kursang Raju and Kudimetta Venkatesh.

Police also recovered one AK47, one Carbine, and two country-made pistols, Naxal literature, and belongings of the Naxals. They collectively carried a cash reward of 36 Lakhs declared by the Maharashtra Government. Further search and anti-naxal operations were underway in the area.

CPI (M) calls for boycotting elections

In an open letter issued by the CPI(Maoists) Telangana State Committee written by its spokesperson Jagan on Monday last, the Maoists demanded the people boycott the ensuing elections.

“Boycott these Hindutva, Brahminical, and fascist BJP and all parties that follow the same philosophy and save the nation from these forces,” the Maoists said.

The Maoists alleged that the BJP during the 2019 elections created the Pulwama incident and benefitted from raking up nationalist sentiments. This time the BJP built Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by spending crores to benefit in the 2024 elections, the letter said. The Maoists opined that the I.N.D.I alliance with its internal differences could never achieve success, because of the Congress which was the main culprit in bringing globalisation to India.