In a major setback to the Maoist movement, 9 extremists, including a top gun, were killed in an encounter at the Khammam-Chattisgarh border at Toda.
Malla Raji Reddy is also believed to be among those killed in the encounter. He hails from Manthani in Karimnagar district, and carries a reward of Rs. 12 lakhs on his head. He has been accused in an attack on former chief ministers N Chandrababu Naidu and N Janardhan Reddy.
Apart from Raji Reddy, Sukh Dev alias Palam Bhaskar is also believed to be among those killed.
Source say that 303 rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter.
The encounter took place while the police were on a combing operation about 15 km from Khammam, in the dense forest. The police had gone on the combing operation based on information that a large gathering of Maoists was going to take place in the forest.
They had started the operation at around 7am. Reportedly, there was cross-fire for over two hours.
Andhra Grey Hounds and Chattisgarh Special Forces were the forces that participated in the encounter.
The bodies of the naxals are flown to Bhadrachalam by helicopter, for identification. Initial reports suggested that about 16 persons were killed in the encounter.
Meanwhile, Varavara Rao of the Revolutionary Writers Association (RWA) said that the incident does not appear like an encounter. He said that there were no senior leaders among the dead. He urged the government to provide quality treatment to the tribals injured in the encounter. (INN)