Seven Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Telangana’s Mulugu district early on Sunday morning, marking the first major clash in recent years.
The elite Greyhounds forces, engaged in counter-insurgency operations, spotted a group of Maoists in the Chalpaka forest and ordered them to surrender. When the insurgents opened fire, the security forces retaliated, leading to a deadly exchange.
The dead included Bhadru alias Kursam Mangu alias Papanna, a 35-year-old area committee commander of the CPI (Maoist) and a member of the Telangana State Committee.
The others killed in the encounter were identified as Egolapu Mallaiah, 43, Mussaki Deval, 22, Mussaki Jamuna, 23, Jai Singh, 25, Kishore, 22, and Kamesh, 23. All were reportedly led by Bhadru during the encounter.
Police said the Maoists had been attempting to revive their activities in the region, with Sunday’s encounter seen as the first major confrontation in some years.
The Maoists’ weapons and explosives, including AK-47s, G3 and INSAS rifles, were seized by the forces.
This deadly clash follows the murders of two tribal men, Uika Ramesh and Uika Arjun, on November 21.
The duo was killed by suspected Maoists for allegedly acting as police informers.
The bodies were found with a note accusing the men of gathering intelligence for authorities. It remains unclear whether the Maoists killed in the encounter were involved in the murders.
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