Beltangady: Hand Grenades, Pistol and Ammunition Seized from Naxal Encounter Site
Beltangady/Bangalore, Mar 11 (PTI): Police and Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) personnel have recovered about 30 high-explosive hand grenades, imported pistol, ammunition of self-loading rifle (SLR .333 9mm) left behind by naxals after an encounter at Mittabagilu in Western Ghats, authorities said today.
"Detonators and explosive powder and quite a bit of literature in various languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi and Maoist training material were recovered", Inspector General of Police (Western Range), C H Pratap Reddy, told PTI by telephone.
An ANF constable had been injured in the firing by naxals in the forest area bordering Dakshina Kannada and Chikmagalur districts yesterday, and he was out of danger. "Quite a number of ANF personnel are continuing the combing operations", Reddy said.
He said there were an estimated 20-25 naxals, including a "minimum of five to six women", and they were possibly holding a regional training session.
Sources said the naxals chose the place believing it's "safe". They said "various leads" are being pursued for investigation, which include possibility of naxals hatching a plot to disturb the March 18 Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha byelection.