Key Naxal leader may have succumbed to Malaria

A key Naxal leader, who had been hiding in Bastar forests in Chhattisgarh, is believed to have succumbed to Malaria, a senior official said here.

A key Naxal leader, who had been hiding in Bastar forests in Chhattisgarh, is believed to have succumbed to Malaria, a senior official said here.

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Ganesh Uike, who headed the two Naxal "divisions" of west Bastar and Darbah areas and was wanted in several cases of killing of security personnel, died of Malaria as he could not get any medical help.

"He was stuck in the middle of Bastar jungles and could not get any medical help as the area was cut off due to heavy floods," Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Vishwa Ranjan told PTI.

He said while his body was yet to be recovered, there were enough inputs that he had died.

"But we are still waiting (to confirm his death)," he said. Malaria has been a constant problem for Naxalites as well as security personnel in the Bastar area. Earlier besides a Central Committee member, Anuradha Gandhi, wife of Kobad Gandhi, had died due to Malaria.