Seethakka, officials pay tribute
PNS|Hyderabad
A fierce encounter between Maoists and the police in Mulugu district killed three Greyhounds commandos on Thursday.
The encounter, which occurred in the dense Nugur forest near Pedda Gutta in Wazeedu mandal, started when a joint patrol of the Mulugu police and the Greyhounds was ambushed while searching for landmines.
Police said after Intelligence reports were received that the banned CPI (Maoist) cadres had planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and warned Adivasis and others to avoid the area, search teams moved into Venkatapuram, Wazeedu and Perur police station limits late on Wednesday night. As they advanced at dawn, a group of nearly 40 Maoists, including women armed with deadly weapons, triggered landmines and opened heavy gunfire on the patrol from a distance.
Taken by surprise, the police team returned fire in self-defence. The Maoists fled into the forest after prolonged firing. Three commandos — Vadla Sridhar, N. Pavan Kalyan and T. Sandeep — succumbed to injuries suffered during the encounter. Another commando, AAC Ranadheer, suffered bullet injuries and is currently stable. He has been shifted to Hyderabad for advanced treatment.
The bodies of the three slain commandos were brought to Warangal where Minister Dhanasari Anasuya Seethakka, DGP Dr Jitender, Greyhounds ADG M. Stephen Raveendra, Warangal CP Sunpreet Singh, SP Mulugu Dr P. Shabarish, MLAs and public representatives paid them tributes. Emotional scenes were seen as the families of the fallen heroes received the bodies with full police honours.
A case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Arms Act, Explosives Substances Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act has been registered at the Wazeedu police station. Senior police officials said combing operations have been intensified, and attempts are underway to track down the Maoists.
