Police exchanged fire with a group of Maoists in Andhra Pradesh’s Khammam district today, but no casualty was reported from either side, police said.
The encounter took place when a special police party was combing the forests near Gundlamadugu village. Maoists fired at the policemen who retaliated, District Superintendent of Police Kanthi Rana Tata told PTI over phone.
The extremists escaped from the scene leaving behind literature, cooking vessels, a calculator and some kitbags, he said, adding no casualty was reported from either side.
Going through the materials recovered from the scene, it was suspected that 20 to 25 Naxals had gathered in the area, Officer on Special Duty Raghuram Reddy said.
Police are planning to utilise the services of a helicopter for combing operation in the forest. However, a final decision would be taken by top police officers, he said.
This was the second gunfight between police and rebels in Khammam district, which borders Chhattisgarh, this week.
The earlier gunbattle took place in forests under Ashwaraopet mandal on October 4. No one was hurt in this incident also.
