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7 Maoists from Telangana named as accused in Bijapur police ambush case

About 350-400 armed members of the CPI (Maoist) attacked a police party and security forces, leading to the death of 22 police personnel.

BySouth First Desk

Published Dec 23, 2022 | 12:23 AM ⚊UpdatedDec 23, 2022 | 12:23 AM

Armed cadres of the CPI (Maoist) attacked the combined security forces — CRPF, CoBRA, District Reserve Guard (DRG) and state police. (Wikimedia Commons)

Seven top Maoists, including Muppala Lakshmana Rao alias Ganapathy from Telangana, were among the 23 accused named in the chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a special court for NIA cases in Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh.

The chargesheet was filed in connection with an ambush on the police and security forces by armed members of the CPI (Maoist) near Tekulagudem village — under the Tarrem police station limits in Bijapur district — on 3 April 2021.

The incident

As many as 350-400 armed members of the CPI (Maoist) outfit attacked a police party and security forces near Tekulagudem, leading to the death of 22 police personnel and injuries to at least 35 others. The armed Maoists also looted their arms and ammunition.

Apart from Ganapathy, the NIA also named half a dozen top Maoists from Telangana — Katakam Sudarshan alias Anand, Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu, Sujata alias Pothula Kalpana, Sagar alias Anne Santosh, Raghu Reddy alias Vikas, and Nirmala alias Nirmalakka.

The NIA has also named Nambala Keshava Rao alias Ganganna of Andhra Pradesh as an accused in the case. The remaining 15 Maoists re from Chhattisgarh.

NIA files Charge Sheet in case related to an attack on Police party/security force personnel by armed members of CPI (Maoist) near Tekalgudiyam village, Tarrem in Bijapur. pic.twitter.com/PzBFgfGSOC

— NIA India (@NIA_India) December 22, 2022

Attack and loot

The case was initially registered by the Tarrem police after the filing of an FIR. It was later re-registered by the NIA on 5 June, 2022.

Investigations revealed that the accused, who are members of the CPI (Maoist) outfit, conspired to commit terrorist acts and that their armed cadres attacked the combined security forces of the CRPF, CoBRA, District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the state police.

Barrel grenade launchers (BGL) and automatic weapons were used by the Maoists in the attack.

They also abducted CoBRA jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas and looted his weapon.

The investigations also revealed that the ambush on the police party and security personnel was part of the TCOC (Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign) of the Maoists.

Also Read: Maoist recruitment case: NIA files chargesheet against three

The NIA investigations managed to unearth the role of senior leaders of the CPI (Maoist) outfit in the attack on the police and security forces personnel, and accordingly named them as the accused in the case, officials said.