Six Maoists have been killed after a fierce exchange of fire between the security forces and the extremists near inter-district border of Bhadradi Kothgudem and Mulgu districts of Telangana on Thursday, September 5, said police.
According to the information received the gun fight broke out in the early hours of Thursday culminating in neutralization of six Maoist cadres including of two female cadres of the banned outfit. Two personnel of grey hounds force (A unit of the Telangana police specialsed in counter-insurgency operation) have also sustained injuries during the gun fight.
One of the personnel injured in the encounter is critical and undergoing treatment. A cache of weapons along with bodies of six Maoists have been recovered by the forces from the site of encounter that falls under the Karkagudem police station limits of Mulgu district. further details are awaited.
The operation was launched after the police received inputs of presence of large number of Maoists into the area. It is being speculated that a few of the Maoist’s group have arrived recently into the bordering areas of Telangana after crossing the Chhattisgarh border.
Notably, the development has arrived on the heels of another major offensive launched by the security forces near inter-district borders of Dantewada-Bijapur of Chhattisgarh on September 3 where nine Maoists were killed following a significant exchange of fire with the joint team of security forces.
Read more at: Nine Maoists killed in encounter in Dantewada, assortment of weapons recovered……
The operation was launched after the police received credible intel about the presence of Maoist cadres of the West Bastar Division of the banned group, after which a joint team comprising of personnel from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Bastar Fighters and District Reserve Guard (DRG) was dispatched towards the location.
Following the gunfight, the joint team had recovered an assortment of weapons including of Self Loading Rifles (SLR), .303 rifles and .315 rifles, explosive materials along with bodies of nine Maoists in uniforms.
Briefing the media over the development, senior officials of the police later revealed that those killed in the encounter were carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 59 lakhs on their heads. This include six members of the proscribed outfit deputed across separate area committees, carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each along with a member of Dandkaranya Special Zonal Committee (DSZC), Randhir who was carrying a bounty of Rs 25 lakhs on his head.
It must be noted that the security forces have amplified operations in Chhattisgarh and adjoining regions of neighboring states marred by Maoist insurgency in recent times. The aggressive change in the strategy of forces in tackling the ultras has arrived amidst the Union Home Minister during his recent visit to the state indicated major operations against the far left group in the coming days stating that the time has come to deal a decisive blow to the Maoists with a robust strategy.
