3 Naxals involved in 2013 Ch'garh massacre killed in encounter

Three Naxals, who were allegedly involved in the ghastly Jiram valley attack on Congress leaders in Bastar in 2013, were on Wednesday gunned down in a fierce gunbattle with security forces in the insurgency-hit Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, police said.

The face-off between a compact team of District Reserve Group and ultras took place in the forested hills of Metapal village, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Kamlochan Kashyap told PTI.

"Based on specific inputs given by state intelligence branch about the movement of the rebels, a team of DRG comprising 12 members was dispatched into the interiors of Katekalyan, located around 450 kms away from the state capital," he said.

As the patrolling party reached the hills of Metapal between Turrempara and Lakhapal villages, security forces spotted a group of armed cadres, following which a gunbattle broke out between the two sides, he said.

"After the ensuing gunfight that lasted for around an hour, Naxals escaped into the core jungle area. During an inspection carried out by police later, bodies of three Naxals were recovered from there spot," he said.

One of the deceased was identified as Bal Singh alias Masa, who was a member of Katekalyan Area Committee of Maoists and carried a cash reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, the SP said.

Terming the operation as a "major success", Inspector General of Police Bastar Range, SRP Kalluri said, "It is a big achievement for the security forces as they have eliminated the dreaded Maoist Bal Singh."

A native of Kuwakonda police station area of Dantewada, Singh was Kanger Ghati local guerrilla squad Commander of Darbha division of Maoists during the Jiram valley attack, the IG said.

"Some of the surrendered cadres have claimed that all the three dead Maoists had taken part in the Jiram valley incident. SP Dantewada has been instructed to furnish these details to the national Investigation Agency for their further action," the IG said.

At least 31 people, including PCC chief Nandkumar Patel and other senior party leaders were killed and several others injured when armed guerrillas ambushed a Congress' parivartan rally convoy in Jiram valley of Darbha region of Bastar district on May 25, 2013.

According to Kashyap, the identities of two other Maoists, who were killed in the incident, are yet to be established.

A 315-bore country-made pistol and two muzzle-loading guns were also recovered from the spot, he added. IG Kalluri said, "With this encounter, the tally of Maoists killed has gone up to 18 as part of the ongoing Mission 2016, with no loss to security forces."