KHAMMAM: Greyhounds commandos shot dead six Maoists, including two women, in the Karakagudem forest area of Manuguru division, Bhadradri Kothagudem district early on Thursday. This was the first major encounter in Telangana since March 2018 when 10 Maoists were killed in an encounter in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district.
A release from the police said that two Greyhound commandos sustained bullet injuries during the shootout. According to Kothagudem SP B Rohith Raju, they were rushed to the Bhadrachalam area hospital where their condition was described as stable. The police said that the security personnel recovered two AK-47 rifles, one SLR, a 303 rifle and a pistol, along with two live rounds, kit bags and other material from the spot.
Meanwhile, sources said the slain Maoists have been identified as Kunja Veeraiah alias Lacchanna, the Manuguru area secretary and dalam commander, Tulasi, Sukram, Ramu, Durgesh and Kosi. However, the SP refused to shed light on this, saying: “Their identities are yet to be confirmed.”
He said that the shootout lasted about 30 minutes. The police spotted seven Maoists in the forest and asked them to surrender, but the ultras opened fire, forcing the security personnel to respond in self-defence. After the exchange of gunfire, six bodies, including those of the two women, were found along with the recovered weapons and other materials, the SP said.
9 ultras gunned down 2 days ago
A major encounter between security personnel and Maoists took place on Tuesday in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh in which nine ultras were gunned down. Among those killed was top Maoist leader Macherla Esobu, also known by the several aliases including Jagan, Dada Randev and Randhir.