Date:04/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/04/stories/2005020403640600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Three Maoists killed in encounter

By Our Correspondent

ADILABAD, FEB. 3. Three Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire, near Shivaram village of Jaipur mandal in Adilabad district, at about 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Though none of the victims has been conclusively identified, one of them is suspected to be the Communist Party of India (Maoist) coal belt secretary, Ranjith alias Srikanth. The police have recovered two SLRs, two SBBLs, one sten gun, Rs. 78,000 in cash and six kit bags, besides empty magazines and some documents.

Going by the number of kit bags, the police say the three naxalites, top cadre not ruled out, have managed to escape.

The Adilabad Superintendent of Police, Kripa Nand Tripathi Ujela, told The Hindu that the police received information about the presence of some naxalites at the village, situated near the Godavari, on the district's border with Karimnagar. An unspecified number of naxalites had been camping near the village since Wednesday afternoon, he said. They had also been informed of their actitvities namely extortion from contractors and local businessmen.

Police parties were moving in the general direction of Shivaram village on Thursday when they came under heavy fire. The police asked the naxals to identify themselves and got no response. Subsequently, the police retaliated. There was an exchange of gun fire for about 30 minutes.

After one hour the policemen found three bodies in the thorny bushes, one km away from the spot

Mr. Ujela termed the exchange of fire as "fierce," and said the police had not opened fire first.