Naxal encounter in Gadchiroli: 27th body found, another top leader dead

NAGPUR: The number of casualties on the Maoist side in Gadchiroli encounter rose to 27 on Tuesday when body of rebel leader Sukhlal Parchapi was found on the hilly and forested terrains of Mardintola near Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border in north Gadchiroli.
On November 13, C60 jawans of Gadchiroli police had recovered 26 bodies of Maoist cadres, including that of top rebel leader Milind Teltumbde, from the same area. Police claimed Parchapi’s body was found stuck between two rocks and it was discovered after considerable search on the basis of inputs from a C60 jawan who had spotted him hit by bullet.
Parchapi was promoted to the ranks of Dandakaranya special zonal committee a few months back entrusting him with the responsibility of a bigger region due to his seniority and “effectiveness”. It was earlier assumed that Parchapi may have fled from the encounter spot.
Police are yet to arrive at any conclusion regarding the possible reason behind the Maoists of the two states, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, camping at the spot in such substantial numbers.
On Tuesday, Gadchiroli police managed to identify seven bodies, which also include that of another bodyguard of central committee member Teltumbde. The bodyguard was identified as Somda alias Naresh Uika, a native of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh.
Earlier, bodies of two bodyguards of Teltumbde had been identified. Police have so far ascertained the identity of 23 slain rebels, including 14 from Chhattisgarh. Four bodies are yet to be identified.
SP Ankit Goyal said the neutralized cadres from Chhattisgarh were being identified on the basis of inputs from the police of that state and also records available with the district police headquarters.
It’s learnt seven bodies have been handed over to family members of the deceased while rest have been kept in mortuary of the Gadchiroli district general hospital.
Goyal said families of the neutralized cadres from Chhattisgarh are being contacted through the local police, which is taking time owing to their remote locations. “We will cremate unclaimed bodies after a certain period as per law,” he said.
In response to some media reports, Goyal did not rule out the possibility of some part of the encounter spilling over to Chhattisgarh due to hilly terrain. “The Maoists were spread over a substantial area as several dalams and formations were present when the encounter took place,” he said.