Four naxals held after encounter in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Four ultras were arrested following a gun battle with policemen in Chhattisgarh's Maoist-hit Sukma district.


The naxals were arrested in the forest area of Kistaram police station of the district yesterday, Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shandiya told PTI today.

On Sunday evening, the jawans mobilised on the basis of a tip-off that naxals were planning to launch an attack on security forces in Kistaram area, over 400 kms from capital Raipur.

On seeing the forces near a rivulet, around 10 kms away from the Kistaram police station, rebels opened indiscriminate firing on them following which jawans also launched a retaliatory attack.

According to the SP, the exchange of fire continued for an hour after which naxal fled to the forests.

Later, combing operation was launched in the region during which four ultras were nabbed from the field of a villager.

"Those arrested were identified as Madkam Rama, section commander of 8th platoon, Madvi Aayta of Elmaguda LOS (local operating squad), Madkam Mukka and Kawasi Kosa," Shandiya said, adding that two country made rifles, two 12 bore guns and live cartridges were recovered from their possession.

On interrogation, the naxals admitted involvement in encounters at Minpa camp, Golapalli, Bheji and Kistaram villages, besides a murder case in Timilwada region, he said.

They were produced in a local court today which remanded them in judicial custody, he added.