Raipur: The Chhattisgarh police on Tuesday gunned down a Naxal commander in Maoist-hit Dantewada district, taking the number of rebels killed in various encounters in Bastar region this month to 15.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) Kamlochan Kashyap said the encounter took place at around 1 P.M. between a squad of District Reserve Group (DRG) and rebels at Kesapur village under Tongpal police station limits.
Acting on a tip-off about the presence of Podia, section commander of Maoists’ military platoon no.13 at Kesapur weekly market, a small DRG team comprising 10 personnel launched the operation in Faraspal, around 450 km from here.
On reaching Kesapur, the security personnel spotted Podia and tried to nab him, but suddenly a firing broke out from the other side prompting the policemen to retaliate, he said.
When Ultras fled from the spot, security forces cordoned-off the area and recovered the body of Podia, along with a 303 rifle, nine live rounds, a .315 bore revolver and its six live rounds were also seized from the spot, the SP said. (ANI)