An armed Maoist carrying a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in a forested patch of Gariaband district in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, police said.
A joint team of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), district force and the CRPF had launched an anti-Naxal operation/area domination exercise from the Jugad police station in the district, located about 170 km south-east of state capital Raipur, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gariaband Tukaram Kamble said.
“The security forces reached a forested patch near Karlajhar village around 9:20 am where a group of armed Maoists opened fire at them. The police force retaliated and the gun-battle lasted for about 30 minutes,” he said.
Sensing their defeat, Maoists slipped into the jungle. While searching the area, the body of a Maoist and a .303 gun were found on the encounter spot, said the SP.
The deceased, identified as Nandlal alias Amlu Netam -- a resident of Rikshapathra village under Shobha police station limits -- was a deputy commander of Maoist Udanti LOS (Local Organizing Squad), Kamble said.
Nandlal was involved in Maoist activities for the past several years and carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, the SP said.
-With PTI Input
