Maoist shot dead in encounter

SOURCE

KODAIKANAL: In a joint operation, the Q Branch, local police and STF shot dead N. Naveen alias Suresh alias Prasad (25) of Semmanahalli in Dharmapuri district near Moolayar at Vadakaunji, 40 km from Kodaikanal, early on Saturday. Naveen was considered an important functionary of Maoist cadres in Tamil Nadu and was wanted in a couple of cases. A rifle and 30 bullets were seized from him. Three suspected Maoist cadres, who escaped, had grenades in their possession, the police said.
The police team took more than nine hours to carry the body to Kodaikanal Government hospital from the encounter spot. Dindigul SP A. Pari and Theni SP R. Sudhakar led the teams.
Talking to mediapersons, Inspector-General of Police Sanjeev Kumar said six teams had intensified search operation in the lower and upper Kodaikanal hills in the past one month.
They spotted a six to eight-member team, including two women, on the other side of the hill near Vadakaunji hill.
Two of the gang members opened fire at the STF team. They also threw a hand grenade at them. But it did not explode.
The team retaliated and killed one person and injured two others. Other gang members escaped. The operation would intensify in the coming weeks. DIG S. S. Krishnamoorthy is camping at Vadakaunji.
Q Branch SP M. Ashok Kumar said Naveen was a well trained Maoist and skilled in operating all weapons and use of hand grenades. He attempted to establish training camps at Uthangarai in Dharmapuri district, Muruganmalai in Theni and Vadakaunji on Upper Kodaikanal hill. He was arrested and released on bail in May 2002.
The STF had arrested five persons in Varushanadu hills and three persons on Muruganmalai in Periakulam six months ago. According to police sources, specific information on Maoists’ movement in the forests near Kodaikanal was given by the Intelligence Bureau.