KHAMMAM: In a setback to Maoists, their Khammam, Karimnagar and Warangal commander and senior leader Sutari Papa Rao alias Singanna was killed in an encounter with the police in Gundala forest area under Sayanapally panchayat Monday night.
According to information reaching here, a police party combing the forest exchanged fire with the Maoists between Kommugudem and Ghanapuram hamlets on Monday night.
Though initially it was thought that two Maoists were killed in the encounter, police found only one body at the encounter site on Tuesday morning.
Two self loaded rifles (SLR), four kit bags, `19,000 cash, party literature and cooking vessels were also found at the site.
It is said that a special party police, including greyhounds, had taken up combing operations in the Gundala forest area on receiving information about the Maoist movements.
Kothagudem OSD T Ramachandra Rao, Yellandu DSP Tej Bharth visited the encounter site.
The Maoist leader’s body was shifted to Yellandu for post mortem