Three civilians, two naxalites killed in crossfire

Narasimharajapura, Karnataka, July 10 (UNI) Five people, including two naxalites of CPI (Maoists), were killed in an exchange of firing between the Anti-naxal Special Police force and the insurgents at Wodayarmath village near Menasinahadya in Chikmagalur district today.

While the police claimed that all the five killed were naxals.

Reports here said three of them were residents of a house in the remote forest area in which the naxalites had taken shelter.

Director General of Police K R Sreenivasan here said in a press release that the naxalites fired at the police when they were confronted by a patrolling police team.

A police constable who sustained bullet injuries and admitted to a hospital in Manipal in Udupi district was said to be out of danger.

The naxalites killed in the incident were identified as Gautam (30), a Member of the State Committee of CPI(Maoist) and Paramesh (30). Both were suspected to be involved in many other criminal cases since last four years. Two other members of the naxal group had escaped into thick forest. Intense combing operations were continued amidst heavy rains, the release said.

The other deceased were identified as Subramanya (25), Ramegowda (50) and Kaveri (40) and their antecedents were being verified.

The incident occurred after a spurt in naxal activities in which a bus belonging to Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) was set on fire last week. The naxals had killed a police 'informer' in Sringeri taluk. In the same taluk naxals had barged into a house and allegedly decamped with Rs 50,000 cash and a firearm, the release said.

UNI