2 Maoists killed in Vizag agency

In a major strike after the Ramgarh incident, and the first in this year, Greyhounds, anti-naxal force of Andhra Pradesh, killed two Maoists, including Gemmeli Narayan Rao alias Jambri, in an exchange of fire on Friday.

The exchange of fire reportedly lasted for about 20 minutes on a hillock about 1 km from Annavaram village under Mampa Police Station limits in Koyyuru mandal in Visakhapatnam agency.

The slain Maoist, Jambri, is the Divisional Committee Member (DCM) of Galikonda area committee of the CPI (Maoist) and was one among the top tribal leaders in the agency areas of Visakhapatnam. The other Maoist killed has been identified as Chittibabu of Veeravaram village of GK Veedhi mandal.

The police also recovered two weapons, including one Thompson sub-machine gun, one country-made revolver, three detonators, two kit bags and Maoist literature from the encounter site.

Addressing the media, Superintendent of Police, Visakhapatnam, Rahul Dev Sharma said the police party reached the spot on specific intelligence inputs, and upon reaching the hillock they reportedly came under heavy fire from the Maoists. The Greyhounds, who were accompanied by local district police, retaliated and both the Maoists were killed.

“It is learnt that there were about 15 Maoists at that time and others managed to escape under cover fire. The incident occurred around 8.30 a.m. and there were no casualty or injuries on the police side,” he said.