Total four Naxalites, including 2 DVCM level cadres, were killed in an encounter with the Gadchiroli Police in Kolamarka hills near Repanpalli in Gadchiroli district on Tuesday early morning. According to SP Neelotpal, a credible intelligence was received on Monday afternoon that some members of Telangana State Committee had crossed Pranhita river from Telangana into Gadchiroli with an aim to carry out subversive activities during Model Code of Conduct (MCC) ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Multiple teams of C60 and CRPF QAT were despatched from Aheri Sub Police Headquarters led by Additional SP (Operations) Yatish Deshmukh for area search. Naxals fired indiscriminately on one of the teams comprising 4 C-60 parties while searching early morning in Kolamarka mountains, 5 km south east of SPS Repanpalli. The C-60 teams retaliated strongly. The Naxals then ran away into the forest due to growing pressure of the police jawans.

 

After the firing stopped and area was searched, 4 male Naxal dead bodies were found lying in the forest. Besides, the sophisticated guns including 1 AK-47, 1 carbine and 2 country-made pistols, Naxal literature and belongings were also found in the firing spot. The dead Naxals were identified as DVCM Vargeesh, (28), resident of Bijapur (Chhattisgarh), Secretary of Mangi Indravelli Area Committee and member of Kumuram Bheem Mancherial Divisional Committee, DVCM Podiyam Pandu alias Manglu (32), resident of Kotram, Bijapur (Chhattisgarh), Secretary of Sirpur-Chennur Area Committee, Platoon Member Kursang Raju and Platoon Member Kudimetta Venkatesh.

 

The deceased Naxals collectively carried a cash reward of Rs 36 lakh declared by the Maharashtra Government. The operation was successfully carried out under the guidance of Special Inspector General of Police (Anti-Naxalite Campaign) Sandeep Patil, DIG, Gadchiroli Zone Ankit Goyal, DIG (Campaign) CRPF Jagdish Meena, Superintendent of Police Neelotpal, Additional SP (Campaign) Yatish Deshmukh Additional SP (Aheri) M Ramesh and DYSP (Campaign) Vishal Nagargoje. SP Neelotpal has appreciated the performance of the C-60 commandos. He has also indicated to intensify the anti-Maoist campaign in the said area and appealed to all the Maoists to surrender.