Chhattisgarh: 2 Naxals involved in BJP MLA's killing gunned down
Two Naxals, allegedly involved in the killing of BJP MLA Mandavi and four security personnel, were gunned down in a fierce encounter with police today in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. Another rebel was injured in the skirmish that took place around 5.30 am at a forest in Daulikarka village, when a team of the District Reserve Guard was out on an anti-Naxal operation, officials said.
Exchange of fire broke out between Naxals-patrolling team at Daulikarka
When the patrolling team was advancing through Daulikarka, located around 450 km from state capital Raipur, an exchange of fire broke out between the two sides, said Deputy Inspector General (anti-Naxal operations) Sundarraj P. "After the guns fell silent, bodies of the two ultras and a .315 bore gun were recovered from the spot," he further said.
A militia member of Maoists also found injured at spot
A militia member of Maoists was also found injured at the spot and was shifted to a local hospital, said the DIG. The killed cadres, identified as Vargese and Linga, were allegedly involved in the ambush in which Mandavi and his four security personnel were killed on April 9, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava said. Mandavi's convoy was moving towards Kuwakonda that time.
Naxals bombed the convoy of BJP MLA with IED
The MLA's convoy was heading towards Kuwakonda from Bacheli area in the Dantewada district when the Naxalites blew up their vehicle with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and opened fire at the occupants. Vargese, a member of the Malangir Area Committee of Maoists, was looking after working of the banned outfit's students' wing in the area, said the DIG.
Vergese was said to be expert in assembling, planting IEDs
Vargese was also said to be having expertise in assembling and planting IEDs, said DIG. Besides, Linga was active as LOS (local organization squad) member in the Katekalyan Area Committee of Maoists, he said, adding a search operation is still underway in the region.
