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Sobhan among 3 Maoists killed in encounter
Three Maoists, including a State Committee Member Sobhan alias Charles, were killed in an alleged encounter with the police in the Kotapalli forest area
Adilabad: Three Maoists, including a State Committee Member Sobhan alias Charles, were killed in an alleged encounter with the police in the Kotapalli forest area of Aheri taluk in Gadchiroli district of neighbouring Maharashtra at about 5 am on Sunday. Sobhan, who hailed from Adilabad district, was facing 20 cases. He carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh. The other killed Maoists were identified as Dinesh and Mukesh. They were members of the Mangi dalam.
Thirteen Maoists managed to escape. The encounter took place in Venkatapur police limits when Telangana Greyhounds, commanded by Tarun Joshi, and the Maharashtra State police took up joint combing. As soon as the police party reached the spot, the Maoists opened fire, which was returned by the party members. The police recovered from the encounter spot an AK-47 rifle besides one each SLR and 303 rifles.
Sobhan, who belonged to Rompalli village in Tiryani mandal, had gone underground in 2004. He was involved in many encounters. He allegedly took an active part in the killing of an informer two months back in the mandal. As many as 20 cases are registered against him.
In the recent past the police have been appealing to Sobhan to surrender. They have announced a reward of Rs.5 lakh if he gave himself up. His death is being viewed as a major setback for the Mandi dalam which now has 22 members. Most of these members are from Indravelli, Chennoor and Tiryani mandals.
There have been 23 encounters between the police and the Maoists in the district so far. As many as 58 police personnel, including CI Chakrapani and nine SIs, and 82 naxalites were killed in these incidents.
Among those killed were key Central Committee Member Azad and dalam members Areka, Sarita, Bharatakka. Recently, the Maoists had set fire to three excavators involved in road-laying work in Gudem village of Bejjur mandal. The latest encounter is being viewed by the police as retaliation for this arson and killings of two informers in Gadchiroli district and in Tiryani mandal.
