Two Maoists were killed in a fight with the police in the Cherla mandal district on Sunday. The fight happened during police operations in the Puttapadu forest on the Telangana-Chhattisgarh borders. The police found one SLR and other materials at the scene. They have taken the bodies to the Government area hospital Bhadrachalam for autopsy. One body has been identified as Cherla LOS Commander Rajesh alias Madakam Yerraiah, but the other is yet to be identified.
The CPI (Maoist) Bhadradri-Kothagudem Alluri Seetha Ramaraju division committee secretary Azad condemned the encounter, claiming it was a fake encounter by the police. The exchange of fire came after Telangana Police chief Anjani Kumar warned officers against complacency in tackling Maoists, especially in areas bordering neighbouring states where Maoist activity is present.
The Director General of Police (DGP) had called upon police personnel not to lower their guard in the wake of the killing of 10 security personnel and one civilian in a landmine blast in South Bastar of Chhattisgarh on April 26. The DGP advised officials to be more cautious, especially with Assembly elections approaching. He urged officers to take adequate precautions in terms of security during the visits of political dignitaries and VVIPs movement in the state. The police need to be more vigilant and tackle the situation firmly, as there is a possibility of Maoist action teams increasing in the border areas of the state.
