Slain woman Maoist’s body cremated by police

Kandhamal: Police on Thursday cremated the body of slain woman Maoist Banila at Patabalisahi cremation ground in the district after none of her family members turned up to claim the body.

"All legal procedures including Supreme Court and NHRC guidelines were strictly followed during disposal of the body,” said a police official.

Though the police had informed her family to receive the body, nobody responded even as 72 hours elapsed, he added.

The slain rebel is a resident of Chhattisgarh and was actively working for Kandhamal-Kalahandi division of CPI (Maoists). She was carrying a cash reward of Rs 4 lakh on her head.

Banila was gunned down in an encounter with security personnel on Sunday. The gun battle took place between the State’s elite Special Operation Group (SOG) and members of the KKBN (Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh) division of the outlawed outfit in Milicia reserve forest near Barkhama in the district.