Two naxalites killed in police encounter in K'taka

Bangalore, July 10: Two naxalites of CPI (Maoist) group were killed and two policemen injured in an exchange of fire between them at Vadayara Matha in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka today.

ADGP Shankar Bidari told sources that a combing party of the special police force came across five to six naxals early today and when challenged the insurgents fired at the police.

The police retaliated, killing two naxalites. However, others escaped. One of the dead was identified as Gautham.

This was the first encounter after the insurgents had stepped up their activities in the Western Ghat districts of Chikmagalur and Shimoga. Both DGP K H Srinivasan and Mr Bidari had toured the naxal-affected districts and held series of meetings last week.

The naxals had killed a police 'informer' last month which they said was in protest against the list of naxalites released by the police.

However, the government withdrew the list following opposition to the inclusion of some names. ''We will come out with a fresh list'', Home Minister M P Prakash had said.

UNI