An unidentified Maoist was killed in an exchange of fire with the police in the Andhra-Odisha border around dawn of Saturday. A police party combing between Kinchupara and Gabarapara in Rangabayalu panchayat of Munchingput mandal in the district spotted a group of 15 armed Maoists on Saturday morning and in an exchange of fire one Maoist was killed while the others managed to escape into the surrounding forests, Superintendent of Police Visakhapatnam District Koya Praveen said here on Saturday.
This was the first time, the State police was venturing into the so-called cut-off area close to the Andhra-Odisha border, he added.
“We have information that the Maoists were trying to distribute land among the Girijans and planning some kidnaps, and sent out 10 police parties into the area and one of them sighted a group of 15 armed Maoists on Saturday morning and they fired at the police who retaliated. The exchange of fire took place between 6.30 a.m. and 7 a.m. and lasted for about 20 minutes”, Dr. Praveen explained.
Later, the police party found the body of a 25-year-old Maoist and recovered from the scene four hand grenades, two .303 rifles and 10 kit bags,
The details of the identity of the person and the contents of the bags, are yet to come in, the SP added.
This was the fourth exchange of fire between the Maoists and AP police during this year, starting with the Bejjangi incident inside Odisha about 25 km during January; on two consecutive days, on May 27 and 28 in Boodaralla Panchayat in Koyyuru mandal. Earlier, at Oodalamarri near Pulusumamidi under Gummidala Panchayat in G.K. Veedhi mandal, a group of Maoists escaped into the forests after a police party fired at them.
Death of a Maoist in an exchange of fire was reported after nearly two years. Then a woman Maoist was killed in an exchange of fire with the police at Kinnangi near Pothirajugummala in Koyyuru mandal.
Police parties coming across the Maoist groups might indicate the banned outfit making efforts to step up its activities.
When this question was posed to him, Dr. Praveen said there was information about the Maoist party bringing around 100 cadres belonging to Gutti Koya community from Odisha or Chattisgarh.
