VISAKHAPATNAM: A day after the massive exchange of fire between police and Maoists, in which 24 Naxalites and one policeman died, there was a fresh encounter on Tuesday morning in which four more ultras were killed.
Three bodies were found in the forest area between Panasput and Ramgarh of Malkangiri on the Andhra-Odisha border, close to the encounter spot where 24 Maoists were found dead on Monday, said sources.
Earlier Visakhapatnam Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rahul Dev Sharma told Express, "As the incident occurred in an interior forest region, there has been a gap in communication. We received information that three bodies were found. However, we have to confirm with the combing forces whether there was an exchange of fire again in the wee hours of Tuesday or the bodies are those that were untraced on Monday." Later on Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh DGP N Sambasiva Rao confirmed there had been a fresh clash on in the morning.
It may be recalled that an exchange of fire took place twice, one during the wee hours and another in the afternoon, in the Bejjangi forest region of Malkangiri district on Monday. As many as 24 Maoists and one policeman died in the encounter. The bodies were shifted to Malkangiri. All major police officials of the two states are in Malkangiri at present.
DGP Sambasiva Rao handed over a cheque of Rs 40 lakh to the kin of slain policeman Mohammed Abu Bakar at Visakhapatnam.
Meanwhile, the police have completed the postmortem examination on the bodies of 24 Maoists and kept them at the office of the police superintendent in Malkangiri. They have announced that the relatives of the Maoists can approach them for the bodies and take them home.
Meanwhile, rights activist Varavara Rao has arrived in Visakhapatnam, and efforts are on to bring the families of the deceased Maoists to Visakhapatnam in order to take over the bodies.
They have announced that the relatives of the Maoists can approach them for the bodies and take them home.
On the other hand, rights activist Varavara Rao has arrived in Visakhapatnam and efforts are on to bring the families of the deceased Maoists to Visakhapatnam so they can be handed over to the families.
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