ONGOLE: A CPI (Maoist) leader and seven naxalites, including five women, were killed in an encounter with the police in the Nallamala forest of Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.

According to the police, while CPI (Maoist) State secretary Madhav was killed, other top leaders such as the outfit's district committee secretaries Jeevan, Sambasivudu and Sudarasan, besides Sagar of Tiger project dalam might have escaped. However, a large tract of the forest area had been encircled and it would be difficult for the naxal leaders to hide or escape. Two of the slain naxalites were identified as Syamala and Suseela, members of the protection squads of the top leaders.

After combing operations began about a week ago, police found the place — classified as Guerilla Base Two, where the State committee of the CPI (Maoist) was meeting — and attacked the camp. Police said the successful encounter was the result of the sustained and coordinated efforts by Greyhounds, the elite anti-naxalite outfit, and special police parties from Prakasam, Kurnool, Guntur and Mahaboobnagar districts.

Acting on information from the State and Central intelligence agencies about the Maoist meeting, police mobilised about 700 men and intensified combing operations in the forest area spread over 1,000 sq km in Prakasam district.

Pitched tents

A Greyhounds team searching Nekkantipenta area chanced upon some activity near Davaboyinapenta at 10 a.m. on Sunday. The team saw pitched tents and cooking arrangements. It opened fire and the Maoists retaliated.

The exchange of fire continued for an hour. Police later searched the area and found eight bodies lying scattered in a radius of two km. They believe that most of them may have died while fleeing for life.

One AK-47 rifle, five .303 rifles, three double barrel guns, two 9 mm pistols, three grenades, huge wireless sets, three scanners, besides a huge amount of cash was recovered from the scene.

The death of Madhav (48) is considered by the police as a huge setback to the extremist movement in Andhra Pradesh. Hailing from Mangapet in Karimnagar district, Burri Chennaiah alias Madhav studied till class V. He joined the extremist movement 30 years ago and rose to become the State secretary.

He was a key suspect in the Alipiri blast in October 2003, in which an unsuccessful attempt was made on the life of the then Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu.

He was also involved in the killing of the then Panchayat Raj Minister, A. Madhava Reddy, and Congress MLA C. Narsi Reddy. He managed to escape at least seven times earlier.

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