In a significant blow to left-wing extremism in Andhra Pradesh, seven Maoists including two women cadres were killed in a fierce encounter with state police forces in the dense forests of Alluri Sitarama Raju district on Tuesday morning. The gun battle marks one of the most substantial successes for security forces against the banned organization in recent years.
Details of the Encounter Operation
The encounter occurred during the early hours of June 25 in the Tekulapalli region under the Mampa police station limits. According to police officials, the shootout began around 6:30 AM when a combined team of Andhra Pradesh's elite Greyhounds force and local police personnel launched a search operation based on specific intelligence about Maoist movement in the area.
The operation was conducted by special parties of Alluri Sitarama Raju district police who had been tracking the movements of the Maoist group for several days. When the security forces approached the suspected hideout, the Maoists opened fire, triggering a retaliatory response from the police team that lasted for approximately 45 minutes.
Casualties and Recoveries
When the gunfire subsided, security personnel discovered seven Maoist bodies at the scene. Among the deceased were two prominent women cadres whose identities are being verified. Police have recovered a significant cache of weapons and Maoist literature from the encounter site.
The recoveries included:
- Four AK-47 rifles
- One SLR (Self-Loading Rifle)
- One .303 rifle
- Multiple kit bags containing essential supplies
- Maoist documents and propaganda material
Police sources confirmed that the Maoists killed in the operation belonged to the banned CPI (Maoist) organization and were active in the Andhra-Odisha border region. The area has historically been a stronghold of left-wing extremism with several Maoist dalams operating in the dense forest terrain.
Security Response and Investigation
Following the encounter, additional police forces have been deployed to the region to conduct combing operations and prevent any potential retaliation from Maoist sympathizers. The bodies have been transported to a nearby government hospital for postmortem examination and identification procedures.
Senior police officials including Alluri Sitarama Raju District Superintendent of Police Tuhin Sinha have visited the encounter site to supervise the investigation and evidence collection process. The police have heightened security measures in the surrounding tribal areas and are maintaining strict vigilance.
This encounter represents a major achievement for the Andhra Pradesh police in their ongoing campaign against left-wing extremism. The successful operation demonstrates the improved intelligence gathering and operational capabilities of security forces in the challenging terrain of the Eastern Ghats.
Local authorities have appealed to residents to maintain peace and cooperate with security forces as investigations continue. Police are also attempting to identify any local supporters who may have been providing logistical assistance to the Maoist group in the region.
