Naxalite gunned down in encounter

Varanasi, Oct 11 (UNI) In a major success, the police today gunned down a hard-core naxalite in Sigra area here.

Senior Police Superintendent Ashutosh Pandey told newspersons here, Pappu Bind alias Pintu Sahni, the self-styled zonal area commander of banned Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) in Bhabhua district of neighbouring Bihar, was gunned down in an encounter in Lehartara.

A countrymade carbine, revolver and six live cartridges were seized from the spot. An aide of the slain extremist, however, managed to escape.

Mr Pandey said the slain criminal was wanted in connection with at least 10 cases of kidnapping and dacoity in Bhabhua and was a close associate of hardcore naxal leader Jawahar Bind.

A reward of Rs 2,500 has been given to the police team which carried out the operation, besides special reward to head constable Manoj Pandey and constable Rajkumar Bhardwaj.

UNI ARS VS VD KP1517