Two constables, naxal killed in encounter

By Our Staff Reporter

ELURU, JAN. 12. Two constables of a Khammam district special party and a naxalite of the CPI(ML) - New Democracy were killed in an encounter, lasting nearly an hour, at Utlagudem village in Polavaram mandal of West Godavari district at around 9.30 a.m. on Friday.

The Eluru range DIG, Mr. Chandrasekhar Reddy, and the West Godavari SP, Mr. Kripanand Tripathi Ujala, have rushed to the spot to supervise combing operations.

Police Department sources said the special party from Khammam district was in pursuit of the naxalites near the village which was on the border of Khammam and West Godavari.

According to a Khammam report, the two policemen were identified as Vetapalem Srinivasa Rao (PC no. 432) and Chappidi Srinivasa Rao (PC. No. 670). Dharmanna, a senior member of the left wing group, was also killed. The two constables who belonged to the Wajeedu and Allapalli police stations were rushed to Jangareddigudem, a neighbouring sub-division, on information that the party was holding a plenum in Koyyalagudem area. The New Democracy leaders including the party MLA, Mr. Gummadi Narsaiah, also left for Jangareddigudem.

Our Hyderabad Special Correspondent writes:

The CPI(ML) - New Democracy condemned the killing of its leader, Dharmanna, by the police in the encounter.

A statement issued by Mr. Rayala Subash Chandra Bose, State secretary, said Dharmanna, a member of the district committee of CPI(ML) - New Democracy, was brutally gunned down by Greyhounds Police in the name of combing operations.

He maintained that the policemen could have easily arrested the underground leader but they chose to open fire indiscriminately.

Mr. Bose said that Dharmanna was a veteran leader who participated in the Telangana Armed Struggle during which he served in an underground dalam. More recently, he was moving around in agency areas and working for the uplift of Girijans.

Two other activists of the party - Lata and Bharati - were arrested by the police in the encounter. Mr. Bose demanded immediate release of the two women.

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