Police kill alleged 'Maoist' in encounter in Wayanad

An alleged encounter broke out between Thunderbolts and extremists in which one maoist was killed. However, human right activists have claimed that it is a fake encounter.

Wayanad (Kerala): An alleged Maoist was killed in an encounter between the police and a group of 'left extremists' on Tuesday morning.

The deceased was identified as Murugan, a native of Tamil Nadu.

The firing between the Thunderbolt force, an elite commando force of the state police specialised in combating extremists, and the suspected ultras took place in the Banasura forest near Padinjarethara.

"We are yet to receive the details of the encounter. However, there is one casualty. The police team including the SP are on their way to the location," a senior police source told media personnel.

Upon receiving a tip-off about the presence of the ultras in the area, the commando force launched a search operation in the area. But five of them fled from the spot before the police arrived. The commando force recovered a pistol from the area.

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The area was cordoned off and media personnel were not allowed to go near the encounter spot. According to reports, the 'Maoists' had earlier bought rice and other eatables from the nearby houses.

Meanwhile, human right activists in Wayanad cried foul over the incident, calling it a 'fake encounter.'

Police from Vellamunda panchayath said they were on their way to the location and details were yet to be verified.

On October 30 last year, four Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire in the forest area of Palakkad district. A Maoist leader C P Jaleel was killed in police firing at a resort in Wayanadwas in March last year.

With PTI inputs