Friday, July 1 2005 12:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Karimnagar: A top naxalite leader Riyaz Khan, who had participated in peace talks with Andhra Pradesh Government last year, was killed along with three others in an encounter with police in Karimnagar district in the wee hours today (July 1, 2005).

Riyaz, the State committee member of Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML) Janashakti group, a district committee member Srisailam alias Vijay and a woman member were among those who died in an exchange of fire with a special police party on the outskirts of Bandanakal village, about 90 kms from Karimnagar, District Superintendent of Police Devender Singh Chowhan told reporters.

Acting on a tip-off that naxalites were holding a meeting to chalk out plans for a major strike, a special police party rushed to the spot and surrounded their hideout.

"Despite repeated warning by policemen, the ultras did not surrender. Instead, they opened fire at policemen who retaliated in self-defence," the SP said.

In a fierce encounter that ensued, four extremists were killed while six others managed to escape.

The police recovered three revolvers, a Springfield rifle and some ammunition from the spot, Chowhan said.

Forty-year old Riyaz had represented Janashakti group during the first ever direct talks with the State Government in October last year.

The Janashakti group of naxalites have a limited presence in parts of Andhra Pradesh, unlike the more powerful and influential organisation-CPI (Maoist).

With today's encounter killings, the prospect of reviving the collapsed peace talks has receded further amidst allegations of police excesses.

"It was a clear case of fake police encounter. We have information that our comrades were picked up from the city last night and done to death in cold blood," the former Janashakti emissary Chandranna said.

The former Maoist emissary and revolutionary writer Kalyana Rao also condemned the killings and said it was a "fascist attack aimed at suppressing the revolutionary movement".

The State Director General of Police (DGP) Swaranjit Sen, however, denied the charge of fake encounter and said it was a "genuine exchange of fire" between extremists and policemen.

"There is no need for us to indulge in fake encounters. It is their (Maoists') culture," the DGP added.