The Hindu : Two naxals killed in separate encounters

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 22, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Two naxals killed in separate encounters

By Our Correspondent

MAHBUBNAGAR, MARCH 21. A naxalite of the outlawed People's War was killed in an encounter with police on Sunday morning near Appayapalli village under Lingala police station limits. Police recovered a `tapancha' and three empty rounds along with two kitbags.

According to the police, around 5 a.m., four naxalites came across a police party, which was combing the area about one km away from Appayapalli. Noticing the police, the naxalites opened fire and the police retaliated.

After the firing stopped, the police searched the area and found the body which was identified as that of Lambada Gopal, aged about 30, a member of Nallamala local guerrilla squad. Three other extremists managed to escape.

Our Warangal Staff Reporter writes: A PW naxal, Mula Ramesh alias Ranjith, was killed in an exchange of fire with police late last night in a forest area near Edulapalli village in Kothaguda mandal.

According to a police press release, Ranjith, who belonged to Chityala, recently took over as Narasampet area commander. He joined the PW in 1996 and was involved in several cases of damage of property. He carried a reward of Rs. 2 lakhs. The police recovered one SLR, camera flash, detonators and three hand grenades from the spot.

Farm labourer dies in crossfire

Our Nalgonda Staff Reporter writes: Caught in an alleged crossfire between naxals and a police team, an agriculture labourer, Nomula Laxmaiah (40), was killed on the outskirts of Polepally near Devarakonda on Saturday night.

While the Superintendent of Police, N. Balasubramanyam, said that Laxmaiah died when he entered the crossfire area, villagers alleged that a police party mistook him for a naxalite and fired at him. He is survived by wife and five children.

According to the Superintendent of Police, Laxmaiah and two others --Annepaka Iddaiah and Kaavati Peddaiah -- were entering the village at 12.30 p.m. when the exchange of fire was going on between the naxals and police, which laid an ambush in the area. "About eight to 10 naxals fired at the policemen and our personnel retaliated. The trio, who were about to enter the village with stolen mangoes and mango leaves, were caught in the crossfire and Laxman died after being hit by a bullet in the head.'' The trio were said to have stolen mangoes and mango leaves to sell them at Devarkonda market on the eve of `Ugadi'.

The SP said that police also recovered two kitbags, two grenades, a claymore mine, a tapancha, a wire bundle and some posters at the spot of firing. Meanwhile, tension prevailed at Devarakonda hospital, where the body was brought by the police. Irate villagers gathered at the hospital premises and charged the police with "killing an innocent villager.''

Drilling machines set afire

Our Khammam Staff Reporter writes: Naxalites of the Peoples War set afire two drilling machines of the Mineral Exploration Corporation in Rayanapadu forests in Gundala mandal on Saturday night.

Police said the naxalites, who surrounded the drilling site late in the night, asked the operators to stay away and set fire to the equipment after dousing it with diesel. The loss is yet to be estimated. They chanted slogans against the Government before leaving the place.

Meanwhile, another dalam of the Peoples War demolished platforms of the Telugu Desam flags in Tegarsala village in Pinapaka mandal. The police combing was on in the villages of Pinapaka mandal.

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