Naxals involved in murdering BJP MLA killed in Chhattisgarh encounter

Naxals, allegedly involved in the killings of BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four policemen in April, was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. Two weapons, a foreign-made 9 mm pistol and a 12 bore rifle were also recovered.

Dantewada(Chattisgarh): Two Naxals, who were allegedly involved in the killing of BJP MLA Bhima Mandvi earlier this month, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Thursday, police said.

The ultras were identified as Lachu Mandavi and Podiya, both members of the Malangir area committee of the Maoists, the police said, adding that they were carrying cash rewards of Rs 5 lakh each on their heads.

The gunbattle broke out at around 11:30 pm on Friday in a forest near Kutrem village in the Kirandul police station area when a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and local police was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava told over the phone.

Two weapons, a foreign-made 9 mm pistol and a 12 bore rifle were also recovered.

The killed cadres were allegedly involved in the ambush in which Mandavi and his four security personnel were killed on April 9.

A search operation was still underway in the region, the police added.