2 Maoists killed in encounter

Jamshedpur: Two Maoists were gunned down in an encounter in Koya under Kuchai police station limits in Seraikela-Kharsawan in the early hours of Friday, police said.
“We also seized one self-loading rifle and cartridges from the encounter site,” DIG (Kolhan division) Ajay Linda said.
A camp which was being used by the Maoists was destroyed in the operations.
The deceased were identified as Reela Mala, who was in her early twenties, and Kali Munda (35). Mala was a resident of Bokaro district, while Munda was from Khunti district.
The encounter took place at a spot between Baruda and Suribera stretches of Koya forest which borders the adjoining West Singhbhum district. “The rebels opened fire without any provocation and the security forces retaliated. The two operatives suffered bullet injuries and died on the spot,” Linda said.
The security forces engaged in the operation comprised the Jharkhand Jaguar, CoBRA battalion of the CRPF and the district police.
The cordon and search operations were carried out in Koya based on inputs that Ramesh Manjhi alias Anal Da, who is a member of the Maoist’s central committee, was camping in the area, along with his squad.
The police said that he was there to revive the Maoist movement and its military operations, but managed to escape unhurt in the operation.