VISAKHAPATNAM/MALKANGIRI/BHUBANESWAR: In a major exchange of fire between the police personnel and Maoists in the interior forest areas on Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB), around 24 suspected Maoists were reportedly gunned down by the police forces. The encounter took place early this morning.
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The operation was jointly carried by Greyhound force of AP and Special Operations Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) of Odisha. The joint operations team entered North East interior forest region of AOB and opened fire at the Maoists, at a place which is about 6-8 km from Bujipattu village. The two sides exchanged fire in which 18 Maoists were killed and a police officer sustained injuries.
"Around 18 Maoists died. We have to get confirmation if the dead include any top Maoist leader. We will take the help of locals to identify the bodies. Guns, kitbags and few personal belongings of the slain Maoists were recovered from the site of encounter," said a police officer from Visakhapatnam district police.
Bodies of Maoists are being brought to Chitrakonda.
DIG Visakha Range Ch Srikanth, Visakhapatnam SP Rahul Dev Sharma and few others are on the way to the spot.