A hardcore Naxal, who was allegedly involved in killing of BJP MLA from Dantewada- Bhima Mandavi along with four police personnel in April this year, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Dantewada district, police said here on Sunday.
The gun battle took place in the jungles of Hiroli under Kirandul police station area when a squad of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on anti-naxal operation, DIG (anti-Naxal operations) Sundar Raj said.
As the police team was advancing through Hiroli, around 450 km from Raipur, exchange of fire broke out between the two sides, he said.
After the Naxals fled, the body of Guddi, a member of Local Organisation Squad of Malangir Area Committee of Maoists, was found. A revolver with six rounds was also recovered from the spot, Sundar Raj said.
He was suspected to be involved in around 40 cases of Naxal violence, including the killing of BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel.
Mandavi and the policemen were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) blast blew up their vehicle near Shyamgiri village in Dantewada on April 9.
Guddi was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head.
Commandos of the recently set up women platoon of DRG, Rs Danteshwari Ladake' (fighters of goddess Danteshwari), also took part in Sunday's encounter with Maoists, the DIG said.
