Malkangiri: Three rebels including two women cadres were killed during two separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh on the fringes of Malkangiri district Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Bhanjam Shanti and Bhanjam Peje, both members of Palamdugu ranger committee, and a male cadre Ramsu of Awapali regional committee of the banned outfit.
With this, 21 cadres of the Maoists have lost their lives during encounters with security forces this month, reports said.
The encounter took place during a combing operation launched by the security forces in the jungle near Palamdugu village under Polampal police limits in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.
The jawans on receiving intelligence inputs about the presence of a Maoist camp in the jungle raided the place in the morning when they came face to face with the rebels. The jawans on noticing the ultras asked them to surrender but the latter started firing at the former instead of heeding to their warning.
The jawans retaliated in equal measure and the gun battle continued for long hours until the guns of the rebels fell silent. The ultras unable to face the heavy assault by the jawans fled the scene leaving behind their camp.
The jawans entered the camp and found the bodies of the two women cadres lying inside. A country-made gun, a Mauser, a detonator, Maoist literature and live bullets were seized from the spot said, IG SRP Kaluri.
In a separate incident, a rebel cadre Ramsu was killed in Punnur jungle under Awapalli police limits in Bijapur district of the neighbouring state. He was an active cadre of the rebel outfit, ASP Indrakalyan Bhonsle said. A country-made gun was seized from the spot. PNN
