Chhattisgarh: Maoist leader Shankar Rao along with 29 others killed!?

CHHATTISGARH: Another major encounter took place in Chhattisgarh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday. In the Maoist-dominated area around Matt police station in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, about 29 Maoists, including one leader named Shankar Rao, were reportedly killed. Shankar carries a reward of Rs. 25 lakhs on his head.

A BSF inspector, two Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, were also reported to have been injured in this incident. It is reported that seven AK-47 rifles, three MMGs, one INSAS rifle, along with large quantities of ammunition were recovered from the scene.

According to the police, the bodies of 10 Maoists have been recovered. Injured jawans have been admitted to the hospital. The encounter started around 1.30 PM. According to senior police officer IK Elesela, this encounter was expected to continue till 5.30 PM. Another encounter took place in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on April 26. It is believed that there is still a possibility of an increase in the number of casualties...!?

Reports suggest that Siripalle Sudhakar, also known as Shankar, DVCM from Swagram in the Chityala Jayashankar Bhupalapalli district, was also killed in this encounter. His wife, Dashashwar Sumana, also known as Rajitha DCS from Bazar Hatnoor Joint Adilabad, also died in the same encounter.