Chikmagalur: Late Night Encounter - Four Naxals, A Policeman Die
Daijiworld Media Network - Chikmagalur (SP)
Chikmagalur, Nov 19: A grim and prolonged gun battle ensued between the naxals and the policemen in the forests located in the Western Ghats in between 1.30 am and 3 am on Wednesday November 19. The sound of gun shots reverberated through the dark and silent forest region after a long gap; at the end of which three naxals and a policeman were found to have lost their lives. Three policemen were also wounded in the incident.
Manohar and Venkatesh
The exchange of fire took place at Mavinahole, a village located in the forests on the Kalasa-Horanadu road in the district. The injured policemen were admitted to hospitals. The deceased naxals have been identified as Navin, Manohar and Venkatesh. The police force lost one of its constables named Guru, a native of Madikeri. He was serving in the Anti-Naxal Force and died when the naxals shot at him.
The Anti-Naxal Force came to know that the naxals had camped at Mavinahole region. On Tuesday November 18 night, they cordoned off the region. As soon as the naxals saw the policemen, they started firing at them indiscriminately. The policemen retaliated, and the battle continued for long, it is learnt.
It has also been gathered that the operation of the policemen was facilitated by the information they extracted from naxals Krishna and Jagannath, who were arrested by them earlier. It may be recalled that the naxals had made their appearance in some villages in Kundapur taluk of late, but had escaped from the police combing operations everytime. In a public meeting held near Sringeri some time back, naxal leader B G Krishnamurthy had rejected the government's offer to surrender. With their action, the policemen have challenged the naxals to either surrender or face the bullets.
Western R IGP Ashit Mohan Prasad has camped at the encounter site and is guiding the operations. State director general of police Srikumar is likely to visit the place on Wednesday November 19.