Encounter in which 6 women Naxals died was fake

Gadchiroli: A human rights activist on Wednesday alleged that the encounter at Mendhri village in Etapalli tehsil of the district on July 7, in which six suspected women Naxals were killed, was fake.

Bela Bhatia, a professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, lodged a written complaint in this regard with the Superintendent of Police here today.

Bhatia headed a fact-finding team that visited the spot recently. Police, huge in number, could have captured women alive as they had indicated that they wanted to surrender, she alleged.

"We will produce ourselves before the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Etapalli who is conducting magisterial enquiry into the incident," Bhatia said, addressing a press conference here.

Police had claimed that they opened fire in retaliation. Gadchiroli, which borders on Chhattisgarh, is a hotbed of Naxal activities.