2 more Central Committee members gunned down in latest blow to Maoists in Chhattisgarh

The encounter began Monday morning with intermittent exchange of fire taking place between the Maoists and security forces. After the shootout, the forces launched a search operation and recovered the bodies of two Maoists, who were later identified as Central Committee members. The Central Committee is the second-highest decision-making body of the Maoists after the Politburo.

The two slain Maoists were identified as 63-year-old Katta Ramachandra Reddy (aliases Raju Dada, Vijay, and Vikalp) and 67-year-old Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy (aliases Kosa Dada, Gopanna, Buchanna) — both carrying a reward of Rs 40 lakh each in Chhattisgarh. Both were natives of Karimnagar in Telangana.

“An AK-47 rifle, an INSAS rifle, a BGL launcher and large quantities of explosives, Maoist literature, and other items were recovered from the encounter site,” SP Guria said.

Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, said, “Both Central Committee members, Raju Dada and Kosa Dada, were active in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee for over three decades and were masterminds behind numerous violent incidents, leading to the martyrdom of security personnel and loss of innocent civilian lives in the region.”

“I once again appeal to Maoist cadres and their leadership to accept the reality that the Maoist movement is nearing its end. It is high time they realise there is no alternative but to shun violence, return to the mainstream, and avail the protection and benefits of the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the government,” the IG said.

This is the latest in a string of major setbacks for Maoists in recent times. On September 12, security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district had gunned down a Central Committee member, Manoj, alias Modem Balkrishna. He was killed along with nine other Maoist cadres. This month also saw Pothula Padmavathi, alias Sujata, who was also a Central Committee member and the wife of slain Maoist Politburo member Mallojula Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, surrender before the Telangana Police after being underground for 43 years.

From the homepage

How will the US government shutdown impact immigrants and visa holders?

Sonam Wangchuk is not a terrorist, says Rajasthan MP after being turned away from Jodhpur prison gate

Haryana Congress has a new chief, but guess who is looming over him? Bhupinder Hooda