Maoists and a police Special Party exchanged fire near Cheedipalli near Gorrellametta under Boodaralla panchayat in Koyyuru mandal on Wednesday morning. Two groups of Maoists, numbering about 15 members, fired around four rounds on the police party from a distance of around 800 meters and the police retaliated by firing one round and the Maoists escaped according to preliminary reports reaching here, Superintendent of Police Koya Praveen said.
The exchange of fire took place between 10.15 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. and it appeared that the Maoists fired first to stall the police party and to escape from the area. Combing operations were intensified after the exchange of fire, Dr. Praveen added.
According to unconfirmed reports senior leaders of Maoist party, company commander of central regional committee-I Kudumula Ravi and former head of military operations of the party in ABO Chalapathi were present. The Maoists split into three groups after the incident and escaped into the forests.
Meeting
A few days ago the Maoists conducted a meeting in this area and the leaders might be here in this connection.
Second incident
This is the second exchange of fire between the Maoists and the AP police in the AOB area, though some other violent incidents took place in Visakha Agency. In January the AP police and Maoists were involved in exchange of fire near Bejjangi in Odisha, which is about 25 km from Munchingputtu in Visakha Agency. During April the police fired at a group of Maoists during a combing operation at Oodalamarri near Pulusumamidi under Gummidala Panchayat in G.K. Veedhi mandal. The Maoists escaped into the forests without retaliating.
