Wanted Maoist leader killed in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow, Nov 9 (IANS) A Maoist functionary wanted in two states to stand trial for carrying out landmine blasts and attacks on security personnel, was gunned down in a forest area in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district, police said Monday.

Kamlesh Chaudhary (35), a native of Bihar, was wanted by Bihar and Uttar Pradesh police to stand trial for various heinous crimes he committed in the two states. The police had announced a cash reward of Rs.1.5 lakh for his capture.          
The rebel was shot dead Monday afternoon during a two-hour long gunfight with a police team in Ramkanach forest area in Sonbhadra district, some 250 km from Lucknow.        
"We managed to gun down the dreaded Naxalite leader, Chaudhary, but nine of his aides who were armed with sophisticated weapons managed to escape," police inspector Siyaram Kumar told reporters.        
"Chaudhary carried a reward of Rs.50,000 by the Bihar police and Rs.1 lakh by the Uttar Pradesh police," he added.        
Chaudhary was a native of Rohtas district in Bihar. He was involved in carrying out a number of landmine blasts and attacks on police and provincial armed constabulary (PAC) camps in the two states.         
A rifle, two revolvers and several cartridges were recovered from Chaudhary's possession.        
According to police, 11 criminal cases were pending against Chaudhary in Uttar Pradesh and 21 in Bihar.