The Hindu : Front Page : Maoist hideout raided, eight killed

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Thursday, Jun 17, 2010
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Maoist hideout raided, eight killed

Raktima Bose

Top rebel leader believed killed during the six-hour encounter in West Bengal forest

It is suspected that rebels carried away four bodies while fleeing
A huge cache of firearms, explosives, landmines and Maoist literature recovered

- PHOTO: SAMIR MANDAL

SUCCESSFUL OPERATION: A suspected Maoist who was arrested after a gun battle between security forces and Maoists in the Ranjha forest of Paschim Medinipur district in West Bengal on Wednesday. Eight rebels, including three women, were killed in the encounter.

KOLKATA: At least eight Maoists, including three women squad members, were killed in an encounter when security force personnel raided a forest hideout of the Left-wing extremists in Salboni block of West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district early on Wednesday.

Unconfirmed reports said 12 Maoists were killed in the incident.

Director-General of Police Bhupinder Singh said here that though only eight bodies were recovered, “we have unconfirmed reports of another four killed.”

It is suspected that the rebels carried away four bodies while fleeing, he added.

Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Verma claimed that it was one of the most successful operations in the region since the crackdown on the Maoists began a year ago.

There was no casualty on the forces' side.

The security personnel arrested an injured Maoist and recovered a huge cache of firearms, explosives, landmines and Maoist literature.

According to Mr. Singh, both the State police force and commandoes of the Central Reserve Police Force's Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) surrounded a Maoist camp in the Ranja forest following a tip-off.

Photo: PTI

Security personnel carry the body of a woman who was killed in the raid.

“The rebels opened fire on the forces and the latter retaliated. A gun battle ensued that continued for almost six hours following which the remaining Maoists fled the spot,” he said.

The police are yet to establish the identity of the arrested Maoist.

Police sources said that five of the eight Maoists killed were been identified as Arjun (who was a close associate of rebel leaders Bikash and Tara), Sagen, Mala, Radha and Lakshmi (who is suspected to have played a major role during the massacre of 24 Easter Frontier Rifles jawans at Silda on February 15).

Intelligence inputs

Sources said that based on intelligence inputs received from the Jharkhand police, top Maoist leader Akash was also suspected to have been killed during the encounter.

Among the arms and ammunitions recovered were an AK-47 rifle, an SLR rifle, more than 150 rounds of ammunition and four pistols other than 100 detonators, 30 gelatine sticks, explosives, wires and batteries.

Mr. Verma said the AK-47 rifle and the SLR rifle were among the several sophisticated weapons looted from the EFR's armoury at Silda on February 15.

According to police sources, the security forces raided the area three days ago also but the Maoists escaped.

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