Two Naxals who were allegedly involved in the murder of a Sarpanch last year were killed in a fierce gun-battle with security forces at insurgency-hit Sukma district, police said on Sunday.
The encounter between Naxals and the police occurred at Vanjalvaya village under Golapalli police station limits, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sukma D Shravan informed.
Based on specific input provided by intelligence agencies, a compact contingent of Special Task Force (STF) and District Reserve Group (DRG), had launched an operation from Kistaram police station towards Golappali- a Maoist stronghold in south Bastar, located around 12 km away from district headquarters, the SP said.
When they reached near Vanjalvaya, a group of armed cadres opened indiscriminate gun-fire prompting security forces to retaliate, he said.
However, after around an hour of the ensuing gun fight, Naxals fled to the dense forests, he said.
During searching of the spot, body of two Maoists clad in ‘uniform’ besides two muzzle loading guns, back bags and Maoist literature were recovered from the spot, he said.
The killed persons were identified as Dusra Dharma (35)-Head of Janatana Sarkar (Peoples’ Government) and Vetti Raju (25), Head of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangthan (DAKMS)- a frontal outfit of Maoists, he said.
The duo was involved in killing the Sarpanch of Golapalli Sunnam Hidma in March last year, the SP said adding that they were also wanted in other incidents of violence in the region.
With this encounter, 23 ultras have so far been killed in separate gun battles in the Bastar region this month, he informed.