Maharashtra: 2 women Naxalites killed in encounter; operation under way

NEW DELHI: Two women Naxalites were killed in an encounter with police in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI, citing officials."Information was received that a few members of Gatta LOS are camping in the forest adjoining Modaske Village under PS Gatta Jambhiya in Etapalli Taluka. An Ops under Addnl SP Aheri Satya Sai Karthik, along with 5 C60 units was launched from Aheri. Gatta Jambhiya Post party and CRPF E Coy 191 Bn assisted the Ops team in laying the outer cordon," said Neelotpal, SP Gadchiroli. He further said: "When the C60 contingent was searching the jungle area, they were fired indiscriminately by Maoist, which was retaliated against effectively by the SFs. Area search of the jungle has led to the recovery of two female Maoist bodies with an automatic AK-47 rifle, a sophisticated pistol, live ammunition, a large amount of literature and belongings as of now. Further ops are continuing in the area. Detailed press briefing follows."In Chhattisgarh, Naxalites hacked a 36-year-old man to death in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, suspecting him of being a police informer, an official said on Wednesday.Dashru Ram Oyam was murdered on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday in Benchram village under Jangla police station limits, the police official said.A group of Naxalites barged into his house and dragged him outside. They then killed him with axes after accusing him of being a police informer, he said.After being alerted about the murder in the morning, a police team was sent to the spot and Oyam’s body was shifted to a hospital for the post-mortem, he said.A search operation has been launched in the area to track down the killers, he added.Meanwhile, 12 Naxalites surrendered in Narayanpur, with nine of them carrying a collective bounty of Rs 18 lakh.