Warrangal, July 02: In a major blow to the CPI-ML Praja Pratighatana, its State secretary Sudhakar alias Ashok was killed in an alleged encounter in the Eturunagaram forests, Warangal district, on Wednesday. Another Naxalite was also gunned down but his identity is yet to be established.
Police recovered one SLR and a 0.8 mm rifle from the scene of action.
District Superintendent of Police V C Sajjanar said the exchange of fire took place in the forests near Bhupathipur village in Eturunagaram mandal.
Sajjanar said a special police party ran into the Praja Pratighatana Naxalites during a combing operation.
“The police asked them to surrender but they didn’t heed the warning and fired at them. In the retaliatory fire, two of the Naxalites, including Ashok, were killed while the rest escaped,” Sajjanar told reporters.
Ashok was from Bayyaram village in Khammam district and had escaped the police dragnet several times in the past. He had been with Praja Pratighatana for the past 10 years.
–Agencies–