Seven Maoists were killed on Wednesday in a gunfight with security forces at Maredumilli in Andhra Pradesh, the police said. This fresh encounter took place just a day after six Maoists, including senior leader Madvi Hidma, were killed in a major operation in the Alluri Sitaramaraju district. Hidma was known to head the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army Battalion 1.
AP Intelligence Additional Director General Mahesh Chandra Laddha said, “In continuation with Tuesday’s operation, seven Maoists have died until now, according to information received from the field.” He told reporters that three women were among those killed, and that the process of identifying all the bodies was still underway.
One of the dead has been identified as Meturi Jokha Rao, also known as Shankar. Laddha said Shankar was from Srikakulam and worked as an in-charge for the Andhra Odisha Border region. According to him, “He specialised in technical matters, arms manufacturing and communication,” based on the initial details gathered by the police.
