NALGONDA, FEB.15. Taking advantage of the leeway given by the Congress Government before the commencement of peace talks, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) has formed an 18-member military platoon to carry the armed struggle another step forward in Nalgonda district.

The platoon, consisting of three sections, is being headed by one Murali of Medak district, according to the inputs gathered by the Police Department. Four women cadres have been drawn from various dalams to work with it. The military platoon is formed to carry forward important assignment -- annihilation of the class enemies - besides providing protection to the top brass and imparting training to new cadres. The police suspect the platoon's role in the recent killings of a tribal youngster and a Telugu Desam Party leader in Devarakonda area.

It is learnt that there is a change of guard in the most important Sagar area committee that consists of Krishnapatti and Kanagal dalams in the district. One Vishnu has taken the charge from Narasimhulu three months ago.

Murali wounded?

According to highly placed sources, the commander of the military platoon, Murali, sustained a bullet injury in an encounter that took place in Mahabubnagar a day before the special police parties encircled the naxal top brass, including Ramakrishna, in Nallamala forest recently. "

An SLR round badly injured his left shoulder. Though it is not confirmed yet," a reliable source told The Hindu .

Police believe that Murali was patrolling the Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar boarders along with one Jangaiah a day before the "plenum'' was organised in the dense forest. The Mahabubnagar police arrested Jangaiah.

While Jangaiah hid behind a rock to escape from the crossfire, Murali escaped from the scene pumping bullets from the AK-47.