Top woman Maoist leader among 2 killed in encounter in Gadchiroli

Nagpur: Senior woman Maoist leader Kamla Manku Narote, alias Ramko who was a divisional committee member and commander of Gatta dalam, was killed in an encounter along with another cadre Shilpa Dhurva, alias Shela, near the forested area of Koti which falls in Bhamragarh taluka, on Saturday.
The spot is not very far from Maharashtra’s border with Chhattisgarh. Narote carried a reward of Rs12 lakh on her head and Dhurva Rs5 lakh. Dhurva was area committee member of Bhamragarh dalam.
The Maoists first triggered a blast and then opened fire on a C-60 party of Gadchiroli district police. The rebels, who had positioned themselves strategically on a hillock, were in a better position as they had the advantage of being at a height. However, the C-60 commandos managed to tear through the ambush and gun down the two women cadres.
The other members of the dalam managed to escape. The bodies of Narote and Dhurva were found during post-operation searches. Gadchiroli SP Shailesh Balkawade said that members of at least two dalams — Gatta and Bhamragarh — were present at the spot.
Police sources said the Maoists had planned to trap the commandos. “The C-60 party was moving towards the spot after receiving inputs about their presence near the hillock. Though there was a blast and firing, there was no casualty on the police side,” he said.
The C-60 party had launched an area domination exercise two days ago from Aheri headquarters.
Ramco is the fifth DVC to be killed in south Gadchiroli division under Dandakaranya special zonal committee (DKSZC) in the last two years. She had nearly 45 offences, including participating in several encounters and murders, against her.
Police feel Ramco may have been the brain behind the blast near Gatta polling booth on the eve of polling on April 11 and also on voting day at Pursalgondi and Waghejhari. The blast at Pursalgondi targeted a polling party which was returning from duty. Two C-60 jawans were injured in the skirmish. In Gatta too, two CRPF jawans were injured in a blast.
Naxal range DIG Ankush Shinde said Ramco was active in the Gatta-Etapalli division which is considered as gateway to the Maoist headquarters of Abhujmadh which straddles Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
Last year, Maoists had lost 40 of their cadres, which included three DVC-ranking leaders, at Kasnasur and Nainer encounters.
ALL ABOUT NAROTE
Full name | Kamla Manku Narote
Alias | Ramko
Husband | Bhaskar Hichami, member of Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) who operates in Chhattisgarh
Rank | Divisional committee member (DVC) and commander of Gatta dalam; promoted as area committee secretary of Bhamragarh
Charges | 45 offences including participating in encounters, arson, blast and murder
Reward | Rs9.50 L