Raipur: Runaway Naxal couple killed in encounter

A Naxal couple which had decamped with weapons from a police station in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh were gunned down in a police encounter in the wee hours on Wednesday, a senior police officer said.

Sonu Netam, 21, and Kamla Markam, 19, were shot dead near Chameda village in neighbouring Orissa by a police team in a retaliatory firing, said R K Vij, the inspector general of police (durg range), adding 1 INSAS rifle, 3 SLRs and some cartridges were recovered from the spot.

Vij said the duo had surrendered to Dhamtari police on June 8 and were living in a room adjacent to Sihawa police station in the district.

According to the officer, the couple decamped with 1INSAS rifle, 2 SLRs and 90 cartridges from the police station on the night of July 5, following which the teams of Special Task Force and Central Reserve Police Force troopers were fanned out on their trail.

Meanwhile, four police constables of Sihawa station were suspended for dereliction of duty, he said. Vij said when police arrived at the village on receipt of information on the duo's whereabouts, they opened fire at them which was returned by the police team resulting in their death.