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Top Maoist leader gunned down in Anantapur

Staff Reporter

Nallamala Forest Division Committee secretary Sudarshan

ANANTAPUR: The Maoists suffered a serious setback when a top functionary of the CPI (Maoist) Samala Venkatesu alias Sudarshan or Satyam was killed in an encounter with the police in the forest area of Nallamada in Anantapur district in the early hours of Friday.

Sudarshan was the secretary of Nallamala Forest Division Committee (NDFC) and member of four-man state committee of the CPI (Maoist).

Another State Committee member Obulesu alias Zaheer was seriously injured in the thigh. Police parties surrounded the extremists who were scattered and got stranded. They threatened to target political leaders if a safe passage was not given to the injured persons and others.

Sudershan and Obulesu along with some important Maoist leaders were holding a secret meeting near Payakatta tank in the Nallamada forest when a police party surrounded the naxalites and opened fire.

After 45 minutes of gun battle, the police found the body of Sudharshan. Other extremists, who were believed to be around 20 in number, escaped. Two of the fleeing extremists reportedly suffered bullet injuries.

The police recovered two hand grenades, as rifle, one pistol, two wireless sets and a large quantity of revolutionary literature from the spot, according to Anantapur Superintendent of Police Stephen Ravindra. Sudarshan was wanted in 101 cases, including 30 murders.

Director-General of Police Swaranjit Sen told reporters in Hyderabad that Maoists had now lost their hold in the Nallamala.

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