Naxal commander injured in gunbattle with security forces

A Naxal commander, carrying a cash reward on his head, was injured in a gun-battle with security forces in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, officials said.
Kudiam Pandu, a janamilitia commander-rank cadre, had sustained bullet injuries on his shoulder in the exchange of fire with a joint team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and district force in Nukanpal forests under Basaguda police station limits last night, public relation officer of CRPF (Chhattisgarh Headquarter), V V N Prasanna, said.
He was taken to a hospital at Bijapur district headquarters this morning and is said to be stable, he said.

"Acting on specific inputs about the presence of a group of Maoists, including Ganesh Telam, a janamilitia commander of Maoists, in the forests of Nukanpal, a surgical operation was launched by a small team of security personnel," he said.
The team comprised personnel from CRPF's 229th battalion, which is stationed at Nukanpal, and district force.
While the troops were cordoning off the area, Naxals opened indiscriminate fire on them, prompting security forces to retaliate.

However, after a brief gunfight, rebels escaped into the core forest areas taking advantage of the darkness and thick vegetation, Prasanna said.
During the search, injured Pandu alias Naga was arrested from the spot and brought to Nukanpal camp, where he was administered preliminary treatment before being shifted to Bijapur, the PRO added.

Pandu has as many as 10 warrants issued against him in connection with Naxal incidents. He was carrying a reward of Rs 10,000 on his head, the official said.
He had also worked as auxiliary personnel for Bijapur Police for some time in the past, the PRO added.