ONGOLE: In a major blow to the CPI (Maoist), two top naxalites were killed in an alleged encounter with the police at Marrivemula village in Pullalacheruvu mandal in Prakasam district on Saturday morning.

It is suspected that the victims were military platoon section commander Sunil and Chandravanka dalam commander Shruthi alias Vijaya. Prakasam SP N. Balasubramanya said that the encounter was in the forest at 7 a.m. The police recovered four rocket launchers, four claymore mines and two single-loaded rifles from the scene of encounter. The ongoing war between the police and Maoists has only intensified when the latter celebrated formation of People's Guerrilla Army (PGA) week from December 3. It may be recalled that the Maoists held up traffic on Hyderabad-Markapur road near Yerragondapalem for five hours from 11 p.m. on December 2, on the eve of commencement of the celebrations.

Traffic blockade

Some 15 armed Maoists then held up 15 buses and nearly 100 lorries going that way and asked passengers, drivers and cleaners to attend a meeting held by them in a nearby rice mill after midnight. About 500 persons had attended the meeting.

Maoists allowed the vehicles to resume their journey only at 3 a.m. that day. One of the naxalites shot dead on Friday, Shruthi, along with Guntur District Committee secretary Mohan were stated to have led the operation that day. The encounter marks the conclusion of the PGA celebrations. The SP along with other police officials visited the scene of encounter.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail