The outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist suffered a massive blow on Sunday when one of its top most leaders, Patel Sudhakar Reddy, was killed in an encounter with the police in Tadwai forest of Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh.
Sudhakar Reddy was the key conspirator behind the attempt on the life of then Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in October 2003.
Sudhakar Reddy, one of the most wanted Maoist leaders, was member of the Central Committee and Central Military Commission of the outfit besides handling its intelligence wing. Another senior Maoist, Komati Venkataiah alias Prasanna, was also killed in the encounter.
Warangal District Superintendent of Police C V Sajjanar said the exchange of fire took place near Lavvala village deep in the forest area at around 5 am.
"We had definite information about the presence of the Maoists in the area. When our teams reached the place, there was an exchange of fire in which two naxalites were killed. It was easy to identify Patel Sudhakar Reddy because he is a well known person and he was arrested by the police in the past," he said.
Involved in several major offences, including the assassination of former Home Minister A Madahav Reddy, Assistant Director General of police Umesh Chandra and the DIG K S Vyas, Patel Sudhakar Reddy carried a reward of Rs 12 lakh on his head.
However, several human rights activists rejected the police claim of encounter. Prominent lawyer and Human Rights Forum President K Balagopal, Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee leader Prof Seshaiah, and many others alleged that Sudhakar Reddy was killed by the police in cold blood after he was picked up elsewhere.
Renowned Naxal poet Vara Vara Rao said, "He was arrested in Nashik some time back, brought to Warangal and killed in the forest area to project it as an encounter."
Rao alleged that the encounter was Andhra Pradesh police's gift to the newly-constituted Manmohan Singh government at the centre and YS Rajasekhara Reddy government in the state.
