VISAKHAPATNAM: Combing operations have been intensified after the Maoists and Andhra Pradesh police personnel exchanged fire in the Nalubari forest area of Pedabayalu mandal in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
"After the exchange of fire, the Maoists fled from the spot. As of now, we do not have any information about the casualties. It will be confirmed by the evening. Combing operations have been intensified after the incident," a senior officer of Visakhapatnam Rural Police said.
The incident happened three days after the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) Week began along the Andhra-Odisha border on December 2.
According to sources, around 30 Maoists opened fire on a special party police team which was combing the forest area in view of the ongoing PLGA week. The Red Rebels allegedly blasted a landmine too.
However, senior police officials from Visakhapatnam Agency told the New Indian Express that the landmine blast was yet to be confirmed.
The exchange of fire on Tuesday is the first untoward incident reported from the Andhra side of the AOB after the PLGA Week began. Until Tuesday, the activities of the PLGA, the armed wing of the banned CPI (Maoist), were confined to the distribution of pamphlets in some remote villages.