A Maoist was killed in an exchange of fire with the police in the Andhra-Odisha border at around dawn of Saturday.

A police party combing between Kindupara and Gabarapara in Rangabayilu panchayat of Munchingput mandal in the district came upon a group of 15 Maoists on Saturday morning around dawn and in an exchange of fire one Maoist was killed while the others managed to escape into the surrounding forests, Superintendent of Police Visakhapatnam District Koya Praveen said here on Saturday. This was the first time the State police was venturing so close to the Andhra-Odisha border, he added.

On credible information that the Maoists were trying to occupy lands and distributing them among the tribals the district police sent out 10 police parties in combing operations. One party sighted a group of 15 armed Maoists on Saturday morning around 6 a.m. and had an exchange of fire for around 20 minutes. Later, the police found a body of a 25-year-old Maoist along with four hand grenades, two .303 rifles and 10 kit bags, The details of the identity of the person and the contents of the bags, are yet to come in, the SP added.

Maoist militia surrender

Twenty Maoist militia, including seven deputy commanders, surrendered before Visakhapatnam Range Deputy Inspector General of Police A. Ravichandra here on Saturday morning. All the 20 belonged to G Madugula mandal, the DIG said after presenting the surrendered Maoist militia members to the media.