2 women among 6 Reds killed in Telangana encounter

HYDERABAD/RAIPUR: Security forces continued their aggressive assault against Maoists, gunning down six people allegedly of the rebel cadre in an intense exchange of fire on Thursday in the dense forests of Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district. The area is close to the Chhattisgarh border.

The dead included two women. Two commandos of the Greyhounds, an elite anti-Maoist force, were injured.

Kothagudem DSP B Rohit Raju said the slain Maoists of "Bhadradri Kothagudem Alluri Sitaramaraju Divisional Committee" belonged to Telangana. The alleged encounter took place at 6.45 am on Neeladrigutta hillock, in Mothe village, and lasted 40 minutes. From encounter site police recovered two AK-47s, one SLR, one .303 rifle, a pistol, live rounds, and kit bags.

The encounter comes soon after Tuesday's anti-insurgency operation in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district in which 9 Maoists were killed.

A couple were among the rebels killed in Thursday's gunfight. Chhattisgarh police identified them as Lacchanna (43) from Bijapur and his wife Tulsi, from Sukma. tnn


Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.