M A I N   N E W S

Naxalites kill seven cops

HYDERABAD, Feb 19 (UNI) — In a meticulously planned ambush, People’s War Group (PWG) Naxalites blasted the Darakonda armed outpost (AOP), killing seven policemen and injuring eight and decamped with a huge cache of arms and ammunition in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh late last night.

A top police official from Visakhapatnam said on the telephone that 30 Naxals belonging to Korukonda, Tandava and Nagalukonda struck when there was a power cut in the area, taking the policemen totally by surprise.

They encircled the AOP and sneaked in through the adjacent primary health centre (PHC) and started firing. They also hurled petrol and soap bombs.

The 20 policemen on duty at the post put up a fierce resistance and the exchange of fire lasted nearly three hours.

Later, the Naxals escaped with 22 SLRs, three carbines, an AK-47 assault rifle and a grenade firing rifle.

In the exchange of fire, the “Deputy Commander” of the Korukonda PWG unit, Venkataramana, was killed.

The police said the marauding Naxals had earlier attacked a state-owned road transport corporation (APSRTC) bus at Lankabakela village and shot at and wounded a constable. The Naxals blocked the bus by felling trees. A passenger sustained injuries.

The Naxals also attacked another bus coming from Sileru with petrol and smoke bombs near Tellanichilipi village before proceeding to the Darakonda outpost.

A combing operation has been launched. State Home Minister T. Devender Goud has left for the site.

The slain police personnel have been identified as Sub-Inspector Krishnamurthy, Ashirvadam and Nagalingam (both Head Constables), Apalaraju, Satyanaryana, E. S.N. Raju and Y. Apala Naidu (all constables).

A Sub-Inspector and two Head Constables were among the eight injured policemen.