Malkangiri: With the recovery of four more bodies, the number of Maoists killed by security forces in an encounter inside Damguda forest under Panasput panchayat of Chitrakonda block in Malkangiri district went up to 28 Tuesday.
Earlier, bodies of 24 persons including 11 women were airlifted from the forest to the district police headquarters Monday.
Combing operations were intensified in the area Tuesday morning and four more ultras were shot dead, Visakhapatnam police told mediapersons. While Malkangiri police are yet to provide details on the combing operation, the four bodies would be sent to Andhra Pradesh, it was learnt.
Meanwhile, 11 of the 24 Maoists who were killed are yet to be identified. They are thought to be natives of Chhattisgarh, police sources said.
According to reports, hardcore guerrillas of AP, Chhattisgarh and Orissa held a meeting in the cutoff region of Malkangiri to disturb the forthcoming panchayat polls in Orissa. Acting on intelligence inputs, security forces of both the states conducted a joint raid and eliminated the Maoists.
Of the 13 identified bodies, seven hail from Andhra, four to Chhattisgarh and two from Telangana, it was learnt.
The deceased ultras were identified as Ganesh, a member of Andhra-Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) and a resident of Bakuri Bagathabakuri village, Area Committee Member (ACM) commander G Keshav Rao of Tadepalli village, ACM Peda Murali of Chinnandabalaga village in Visakhapatnam district, Divisional Committee Member (DCM) Srinu Babu of Dabapalem village in East Godavari district, ACM Madhu of Palangtala village of West Godavari district, Badu of Nalabadulur village in Srikakulam district and Munna, son of top Maoist leader Ramakrishna of Alkakurpadu village of Prakasam district. The rebels who were from Chhattisgarh are – ACMs Rajesh, Budri, Budra and Manjula of Bijapur district. Similarly, the two from Telangana are – AOBSZC member Pichakuntala Dasireddy of Nalgonda district and ACM Padma of Railway Colony in Secunderabad.
Apart from the above 13, one more body was identified. He was identified as Murali of Mandhagalam village of Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh. He is the father of Appa Rao who is working in the Andhra Pradesh police department.
Meanwhile, Union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on this issue and assured all support to the state in this connection.
Chief Minister’s Office said Singh praised the move of the state police and assured all help from Centre.
CMO officials said Patnaik congratulated the police for conducting such a highly successful operation against the Maoists. PNN
