MAOIST KILLED IN GUNDALA FOREST ENCOUNTER

An unidentified Maoist was killed in an encounter at Devalagudem under Gundala mandal in the wee hours of Thursday. According to police, a special party, led by Gundala Circle Inspector Srinivas, has been conducting surprise checks after receiving reliable information about the presence of Maoists in the area.

Two persons on a bike were asked by the police to stop at Devalagudem but one of them suddenly opened fire and tried to escape from the spot.

The special police asked them to surrender but they did not heed. The police opened fire, which killed one of them while the other managed to escape. Search operations to nab him have been intensified, said police personnel.

Police recovered a weapon and the two-wheeler at the spot. This is the third such incident in the last six months in the Gundala forest area. There was an exchange of fire between police and members of CPI-Maoist in the forests located near Karakagudem in BhadradriKothagudem district on June 15. Constable Narasimha Rao sustained bullet injuries in the incident.

Since then, greyhounds and special party police have been conducting combing operations in the forest areas of Gundala, Allapalli and Karakagudem in Bhadradri district and Tadwai forest area in Bhupalapalli district.

The forest is dense and it is suspected that Maoist dalams coming from Chhattisgarh are hiding there.

THE SPECIAL police asked them to surrender but they did not heed. The police opened fire, which killed one of them while the other managed to escape. Search operations to nab him have been intensified, said police personnel.