A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre was killed in an encounter between five Maoists and a 20-member "Thunderbolt" patrol team, in the forests near Meenmutty in Wayanad District of Kerala on November 3, reports NDTV. According to Kerala Police, the slain cadre has been identified as Velmurugan from Tamil Nadu. On combing the area, the patrol found a body along with .303 rifle, while the others escaped. According to Police, Velmurugan was an expert in handling arms, propagating Maoist ideology and was an active member of the CPI-Maoist. He was on the run since 2012 and has cases registered against him in Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Cases against him include propagating Maoist ideology, and criminal conspiracy against the Government with illegal weapons, among others are registered against him.