**Malkangiri:** 24 Naxals including 8 women Maoists killed, 1 Greyhounds jawan martyred and two injured in a joint operation conducted by Odisha and Andhra Police in a forest in between Ramagada and Panasaputa at Odisha- Andhra border late last night.
Hardcore Maoist P Rama Rao alias Udaya and Gajarla Ravi alias Uday were among those killed in the encounter. Uday had a reward of Rs 2 lakhs on his head.
The operation was in a cut off area near Ramgad forest in Andhra Pradesh, so the Odisha police who also participated in the operaton along wth Andhra Police and Greyhound force took the way along Andhra Pradesh to the forest where around 40 naxals had gathered. The operation took place on early morning of Monday, The dead naxal bodies are to be brought to Malkangiri soon according to top police sources.
2 303 rifles, 3 AK-47, a Insas, a SBML,a TAMANCHA , 2 Kit bags, a Laptop, 3 SLR and cash of Rs 2,16,000 recovered guns were seized from the spot including other huge ammunition after the joint operation of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh police. Search operation is on and death counts are likely to increase informed Rahul Dev Sharma, SP, Visakhapatnam.
Top Maoist cadre and All India Secy of Andhra Odisha Border Specail Zonal Comittee Ramakrishna alias RK was present at the spot during the exchange of fire but managed to escape. One commander of the greyhound is also reportedly injured in the encounter according to the sources.
