KALPETTA: A Maoist has been killed in a gunfight with police at Vythiri in Wayanad and another injured. The gunfight started Wednesday night at 8.30 pm. A group of Maoists reached a resort in Vythiri and demanded cash and provision after holding the inmates captive. The resort staff informed the police and following that police and thunderbolt reached the place.
The gunfight which started last night continued till Thursday early morning. In a search conducted this morning, a body of one of the Maoist was found. He has been identified as C P Jaleel. Two cops sustained injuries in the gunfight. A search has been intensified to trace the other Maoists.

The Maoist team arrived at Upavan Resort on the national highway near Lakkidi. They later demanded money from the front office employees. When they refused to give money, they were held captive. They fired shots when thunderbolts and a team led by Kalpetta DySP Prajeesh Thottathil surrounded them.

Police authorities said the attack was carried in revenge of starting a police outpost at Amba Sugandagiri sector in Vythiri. It has been assessed that the state has never seen such an attack recently.

Malappurm Pandikkadu native Jaleel was Maoist group Kabaneedalam member and People’s Liberation of guerrilla document expert.

When the police started firing the Maoists tried to ran into the forest. It was then a bullet hit at the back of Jalel. The bullet pierced into the skull and ejected through the face beneath the eye.

Though the police started search for other Maoists they had to stop it as they heard the noise of firing from the forest.
The CCTV visuals showed two Maoists entering the resort and demanding money. Since they demanded food for ten people, the police feel there might had been more activists in the gang.

Jaleel’s other brothers
Jaleel’s brothers C P Rasheed and C P Ismail also subscribe to similar ideology. Younger brother C P Jishadh is a leader of students’ revolutionary youth federation. Jaleel is the sixth among nine children of Malappuram Pandikkadu Cherukkapalli house residents and late couple Hamsa and Aleema
Since 2016, Jaleel has not been to his home, says his relatives.