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9 naxals, 3 commandos killed in encounter

In yet another blow to Left wing extremism, the police have shot dead nine Naxalites of the banned People's War Group in a fierce encounter in the dense forests of Kuppaguda, on the Andhra Pradesh-Orissa border.

Three commandos of the elite Greyhounds were also killed in the day-long exchange of fire.

Three women were among the killed Naxalites. The police recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the spot.

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police H J Dora said following a tip off that a dalam (Naxal squad) was moving in the area, a special team conducted combing operations, leading to encounters between the police and various dalams at several places in the dense forest.

The bodies of the Naxalites, all in the olive green uniform of the PWG, were recovered from different places.

Dora said a PWG training camp was held in the area.

On Saturday, 22 PWG guerillas from Warangal district surrendered before the state director general of police. Also, police wiped out two entire dalams in separate encounters recently in Medak district.

As many as 160 Naxalites were killed in encounters this year. The police lost 24 personnel.

UNI

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