Three Maoists killed in exchange of fire in Maredumilli forest of Andhra Pradesh
Three Maoists, including Central Committee member of the banned CPI (Maoist), Gajarla Ravi alias Uday and South Zonal Committee member Aruna, were killed in an exchange of fire with the security forces along the Pamuleru stream near Akooru village in Maredumilli forest in Alluri Sitharama Raju district.
Uday carried a reward of ₹25 lakh on his head, while it was ₹20 lakh for Aruna.
Among the deceased Maoists are Gajarla Ravi alias Uday, a Central Committee member of the banned CPI (Maoist) and secretary of Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), and Raavi Venkata Chaitanya alias Aruna, a South Zonal Committee Member and wife of Central Committee member Chalapathi, who was killed in an exchange of fire in Chhattisgarh recently,' said Alluri Sitharama Raju District Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar.
According to sources, the other deceased Maoist is Area Committee member Anju.
The exchange of fire took place between the group of Maoists and the Greyhounds, the elite anti-naxal squad of the Andhra Pradesh Police.
'The exchange of fire began at 7 a.m. on Wednesday and lasted for an hour along the Pamuleru stream when the security forces were combing the Maredumilli forests. Three AK 47 were recovered from the site of exhange of fire,' said Mr. Bardar.
Pamuleru stream is among the prime tourist destinations in Maredumilli forests that comes under the purview of Papikonda National Park.
'No casualty among the security personnel was reported. The dead bodies are yet to be recovered from the spot. The combing operation continued till 6 p.m., the SP added.
The Greyhounds and Maredumilli police teams are expected to bring the bodies of the Maoists out of the forest by Thursday.
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