Naxal killed in encounter in Dantewada; 5 surrender

Five Naxals carrying cash rewards on their heads surrendered before authorities in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Friday, and one of them has tested coronavirus positive.

Dantewada (Chhattisgarh): A Naxal was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Friday, a police official said.

The gunfight took place at around 7:30 am near Mustalnaar village under Geedam police station limits when a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava said.

The operation was launched based on inputs about the presence of rebels in the area, he said. The exchange of fire lasted for about half an hour following which the body of an ultra, identified as Ramchandra Karti (20), was recovered from the spot, located around 400km from the state capital Raipur, Pallava said.

Two country-made firearms, a 2kg improvised explosive device (IED), four bags, utensils and items of daily use were also recovered from the encounter site, he added.

5 Naxals surrender, one of them tests COVID-19 positive

Five Naxals carrying cash rewards on their heads surrendered before authorities in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Friday, and one of them has tested coronavirus positive, police said.

The Naxal, who has tested positive for COVID-19, told the police that he suspected that he had contracted the infection and quit the Maoist movement to get better medical treatment.

The cadres have been identified as Hunga (48), Joga alias Panta (22), Lingaram (32), Joga Kunjam (22) and Pandu (30), all residents of the Kuwakonda area in the district, police sources said.

According to police, all the surrendered Naxals, who were carrying cash rewards of Rs 10,000 each, were subjected to COVID-19 testing and Hunga was found infected.

They quit the Naxal movement as they were impressed by the 'Lon Varratu (return home) rehabilitation campaign of Dantewada police, police said.

Hunga was a member of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangthan (DAKMS), a front organisation of Maoists, while Joga was a member Chetna Natya Mandli (CNM), a cultural wing of the outlawed outfit, police said, adding that three others were Jan militia members.

In his statement, Hunga told the police that he along with senior cadres of the banned organisation had organised a rally and meeting to protest against the new camp at Mankapal in Sukma district, which several villagers had attended.

He said that after returning from the rally, he fell ill and fearing infection, he quit the Maoist movement for better medical treatment.

The surrendered Naxals were allegedly involved in several crimes in the district, police said.

(With inputs from agency)