Security forces kill 18 Maoists along Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border

The police recovered four AK-47 rifles and other weapons from the encounter spot.

Visakhapatnam

: Around 18 Maoists were killed in an encounter by security personnel (Greyhounds and AP Special Police and Odisha Police) along Andhra Pradesh-Odisha Border (AOB), in between Busiput and Bejangi areas in Malkangiri district of Odisha in the morning on Monday. However, the police are yet to confirm the number of deaths in the incident.

A senior police officer said that the security personnel attacked the Maoists in the forest area along AOB and the encounter between the cops and ultras have lasted about one-hour. Based on concrete information, the police have attacked the red-rebels, who gathered at the area on Sunday night.

Superintendent of Police (Visakha Rural) Rahul Dev Sharma said that around 18 Maoists were killed in the joint operation of AP and Odisha Police, but they are yet to identify the deceased rebels.

Police sources said that the some Maoists leaders might have been killed in the encounter as leaders of the ultras also attended the meeting in the area. One police officer also suffered bullet injuries in the incident, they added.

Rahul Dev Sharma said he could not say with certainly how many Maoists leaders were killed in the encounter as the identification process is yet to begin. The police recovered four AK-47 rifles and other weapons from the encounter spot and they would be shifting the dead bodies to either Malkangiri or Vizag.