VISAKHAPATNAM: Four more Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire with police in the dense forest area between Panasput and Ramgarha in Malkangiri district on the Andhra-Odisha border on Tuesday morning, less than 24 hours after 24 rebels were gunned down in the same region.
The second encounter in as many days unfolded during combing operations being conducted by the elite anti-Naxal force, the Greyhounds, and the Odisha police for Maoists who escaped the Monday battle.
Initially, it was believed that the four Maoists were killed during the first encounter itself as their bodies were recovered close to the spot. However, DGP N Sambasiva Rao confirmed that it was the second encounter between the two sides in Malkangiri region.
The Maoists opened fire on police who were getting off a helicopter in the Bejangi forest region to sanitise the area, he explained, adding that the security personnel had to retaliate in self-defence. The State police chief also dismissed allegations levelled by rights activists that the Maoists were killed in cold-blood. He clarified that it was an exchange of fire, not a one-sided affair. According to sources, 14 out of the 24 Maoists slain on Monday, have been identified.
The dead included Munna, son of CPI (Maoist) central committee member Ramakrishna. Post-mortem was conducted. The identities of the four who were killed Tuesday are yet to be established. Meanwhile, the DGP, along with ADG (Operations) NV Surendra Babu visited the family of the martyred Greyhounds commando Abu Bakar and handed them a cheque for the `40 lakh ex-gratia. Greyhounds commando Md Abu Bakar lost his life.