2 Maoists allegedly involved in BJP lawmaker Bhima Mandvi’s killing gunned down in Chhattisgarh

Two Maoists, 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, the police said. The fierce gun battle took place at a forest in Daulikarka village when a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on an anti-Maoist operation, Deputy Inspector General (anti-Naxal operations) Sundarraj P told news agency PTI.

The killed Maoists, identified as Vargese and Linga, were allegedly involved in the ambush in which Mandavi and his four security personnel were killed on April 9, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava said. Another Maoist was injured, who was shifted to the local hospital. Vargese, a member of the Malangir Area Committee of Maoists, was looking after working of the banned outfit’s students’ wing in the area, the DIG said. He was also said to be having an expertise in assembling and planting IEDs, he said. Besides, Linga was active as LOS (local organisation squad) member in the Katekalyan Area Committee of Maoists, he said, adding a search operation was still underway in the region. 

Dantewada SP Abhishek Pallav said," They had come to install IEDs with the intention of executing a major operation. So this (encounter) is a major achievement. Weapons have been recovered."

BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi along with four security personnel were killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada on April 9. The incident occurred at Shyamagiri hills when the MLA's convoy was heading towards Kuwakonda from Bacheli area. The Maoists blew up a vehicle in the convoy with an IED and opened fire at the occupants. The MLA and four security personnel were killed in the attack.

(With PTI inputs)