2 Naxals involved in killing of BJP MLA gunned down

Bhopal: Nine days after BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi was killed along with four jawans in a Maoist Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar district of Dantewada, two ultras allegedly involved in the incident, were on Thursday gunned down in an encounter with security forces in the region.

According to Chhattisgarh deputy inspector general of police (anti-Naxal operation) P Sunderraj, the two rebels, members of Malangir Area Committee of outlawed CPI (Maoist), were killed in an encounter with a search party comprising commandoes of district reserve group (DRG), a tribal force of Chhattisgarh police, that took place in the forested village of Daulikarka under Kuakonda police station in Dantewada district around 5.30 in the morning.

The slain ultras have been identified as Vargese and Linga. Another rebel, injured in the incident, was arrested. Security forces recovered bodies of the two slain ultras and a .315 bore gun at the encounter site.

Vargese, who was in charge of students’ wing of Malangir Area Committee, carried a bounty of `5 lakh on his head. The other slain ultra was a member of Local Operation Squad functioning under the committee. The Dantewada BJP MLA was killed along with four jawans near Nakulnar in the district on April 9.