Woman naxalite killed in gun battle, another ultra held

RAIPUR: A woman naxalite was killed and another ultra arrested after a gun battle with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Maoist-hit Narayanpur district, police said today.


The face-off between the naxals and joint contingent of district police, CRPF and STF took place in the Nelnar forests area under Chhotedongar police station limits (over 350 kms from Raipur) yesterday, Narayanpur Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) N K Sahu said.

"The deceased has been identified as Sarita, a native of South Bastar, who was active in Nelnar area committee of the Maoist. She was also PPC (platoon party commander) of the battalion II of the Maoists," the DSP said.

The arrested woman naxalite has been identified as - Ghasni - of LOS (local operating squad) at Nelnar.

The patrol party was on a combing operation in the region and on getting a tip off about the presence extremists at Ulistar village in Nelnar area, security forces swung into action and began surrounding them, he said.

On seeing the patrol party, the ultras started firing indiscriminately at them. The search party retaliated following which naxals fled into the deep forest.

After the encounter, security personnel recovered the body of a naxal, apart from huge cache of arms and ammunition.

Ghasni, who was trying to escape from the spot, was nabbed.

"Several other naxals had received bullet injuries but their associates managed to take them to the core forest region," the DSP said.

Police also recovered three rifles, two guns, a country-made pistol, live cartridges, about 10 bombs, a couple of detonators, 36 bags, wires, surgical instruments, commodities of daily use and various naxal related material from the spot, Sahu added.