NAGPUR: The Chhattisgarh police on Sunday claimed to have gunned down three “dreaded Maoists” in Rajnandgaon district.
“Three dreaded Maoists have been killed by the district police force in Pendaudi hills of Aundhi area of Rajnandgaon district today. The police team was led by Police Sub Inspector Ashwini Rathore of Aundhi police station,” Rajnandgaon District Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal said in a statement.
The police team had left for Pendaudi hills at 11 a.m. on Sunday after receiving inputs about the presence of Maoist leader Sameela Potai and Maoists of Aundhi Local Operating Squad in the area.
A press note issued by Chhattisgarh police said, “At around 2.30 p.m., the Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on the police team near Pendaudi Hills. The police team retaliated the fire. The Maoists ran towards Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra as the police team was getting dominant in the firing. The searching of the spot of the encounter resulted in the recovery of three dead bodies in Maoist uniform.”
The police team recovered one SLR, one INSAS and one 303 rifle and some ammunition from the spot of the encounter.
Mr. Agrawal said two more Maoists were hit during Sunday’s encounter. The dead Maoists included Potai, who was active in South Rajnandgaon area since 2007. “She had 40 cases registered against her,” Mr. Agrawal said.
In a separate development, two woman Maoists surrendered to the police in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on Sunday.
“We had arrested senior Maoist leader Pawan Velda recently. They were working with him and surrendered to the police on Sunday. Both were working with the Maoist groups active in Chhattisgarh. One of them is a young girl,” the Gadchiroli district police said in a press statement.