6 Maoists Killed in Fierce Encounter with Security Forces in Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem

 

In a significant operation, six Maoists were killed in an encounter with police forces in the Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana on Thursday morning.

 

Two security personnel were injured during the exchange of fire, with one in critical condition and currently undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital.

 

The encounter took place in the forested area of Damaratogu-Karakagudem, under the Niladri Peta forest range, as police conducted combing operations targeting Maoist activity.

 

The Maoists were reportedly part of the Manuguru area committee, a faction led by the notorious Maoist leader Kunja Veeraiah, alias Lachanna, who was among those killed in the gunfight.

 

This group had migrated from Chhattisgarh and had been active in the Telangana-Andhra Pradesh border region for some time.

 

District Superintendent of Police Rohit Raj confirmed the incident, stating, "Six Maoists were killed in the encounter, and two of our personnel were injured."

 

The operation was led by Telangana’s elite anti-Maoist force, the Greyhounds, known for their rigorous counter-insurgency tactics.

 

 

1. Kunja Veeraiah alias Lachanna, aged 42, DVCM (Divisional Committee Member).

 

2. Punam Lakke alias Tulasi, aged 29, also a DVCM.

 

3. Kovvasi Ramu, aged 25, ACM (Area Committee Member).

 

4. Podium Kosaiah alias Sukuram, aged 21, Party Member.

 

5. Kosi, a newly recruited Maoist.

 

6. Durgdesh, another new recruit.

 

 

These Maoists, according to police reports, were part of a notorious faction involved in multiple violent activities across the region.

 

Their elimination marks a crucial victory in the ongoing efforts to combat Maoist terrorism. The Greyhounds recovered automatic weapons and other equipment from the site, indicating the sophistication of the Maoists’ operations.

 

Two members of the security forces were injured in the gunfight, including one constable from the Greyhounds who was critically wounded and transported to a local hospital for urgent care.

 

In the wake of the encounter, a combing operation is still underway to locate any remaining Maoists in the region. Bhadradri Kothagudem, located near the Chhattisgarh border, has been a hotbed of Maoist activities, often requiring security forces to engage in prolonged counter-terrorism efforts.

 

This incident comes on the heels of another major anti-Maoist operation earlier in the week in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, where nine Maoists were killed by security forces.

 

The back-to-back encounters signify the increasing pressure being exerted by the government forces on Maoist terrorists operating across central India.

 

Local authorities have praised the swift response of the Greyhounds, emphasising the critical nature of such operations in maintaining law and order in the region.

 

The police have launched further investigations into the Maoists' movements and affiliations, ensuring that their network is dismantled.