Top Maoists escape

Visakhapatnam: The top most leaders, including most wanted Maoist RK Ramakrishna escaped into dark after an exchange of fire between the Maoists and Armed Forces near Balimela reservoir at Jodaambo area here on Thursday on the Andhra- Odisha Border.

According to sources, about 40 Maoists were assembled, including their top leader RK were spotted by the police at Balimella area. The alerted forces tried to corner the Maoists.

However, sensing threat from the forces, the Maoists opened fire and countering their attack, the armed forces also opened fire. According to sources, exchange of fire took place for one-and-a-half hours. The Odisha and AP police were present during the exchange of fire.

After four hours silence from the Maoists side, the armed forces moved further and located the spot. The police collected Telugu literature books, rice bags, kit bags and other grocery from the spot.

The police suspect that the Maoists were gathered to plan an attack against the government and police personnel in a revenge for the death of 40 Maoists during the exchange of fire last month at Gadchirolli forest in Maharashtra and at Godavari basin near Chhattisgarh.

However, no causalities were reported from the both ends. The police are suspecting that one Maoist was injured in the fire.