VISAKHAPATNAM: Maoists gunned down a police constable of the state intelligence department near the government junior college at Paderu in Visakhapatnam district on Thursday evening. The constable, P Appanna (45), was shot dead in front of hundreds of people who watched the ghastly incident with shock.
Three armed Maoists, reported to be members of Korukonda dalam, came close to Appanna and shot three rounds at point blank range in the presence of his young son. The constable died on the spot. Appanna belongs to Barla village of Munchingput mandal in the district. He had served for 23 years with the police.
Within minutes, the Maoists vanished into the forests on foot. Police alerted all the stations in the area. They believe the Maoists might be taking shelter around Paderu as security is tight elsewhere after the recent abductions.