TS cops gun down 8 Naxals in encounter

KHAMMAM: In a major setback to extremists,  the special party police gunned down eight members of  CPI (ML) Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction  in an exchange of fire  at Mellamadugu forest area in Tekulapalli mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district in the wee hours of Thursday. Police recovered a self-loaded rifle,  three 8 mm riffles, two double barrel breach loader, kits bags and party literature from the  location.

According to district SP Ambari Kishore Jha,  following information that members of  CPI (ML) Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata were moving in the area, a special party police team launched combing operations  in  Mellamadugu forest area. During the combing operation, the team came across eight  members of CP Bata and when they asked them to surrender,  the naxals opened fire on them and in retaliation the police opened fire killing all of them.  

The entire operation took over 20 minutes and more than 200 to 300 rounds were fired. 
The  CPI (ML) Bata group was formed four months ago with surrendered naxals of different groups.  
This group was basically involved in  extortion, the SP said. 
The deceased naxals have been identified as  Etti Kumar (35) alias Rakhi , Jakkati Praveen Kumar(24) alias Azad, Nunavath Arjun(22) alias  Naveen,  Boina Omprakash(22) alias Ganesh, , Easam Naresh(30) alias Sudharshan, Turkuli Madhu(35), Gadudula Srinu (40) and Bhattu Adinarayana (38).
The SP stated that the relatives of the extremists had been informed about the incident. Yellandu DSP Prakash Rao and other officials were  prw

Previous encounters
Two Maoists killed in Rangapuram forests on September 16, 2015 after formation of Telangana.
Two Naxalites of the CPI-ML (New Democracy) killed in an encounter in Bhadradri Kothagudem district on September 21 2017.