Maoists killed Congress leader

Vijayawada, Nov 24 (UNI) A Maoist was killed in an exchange of fire with police party while a Congress leader was gunned down by Maoists in Andhra Pradesh today.

In Rajahmundry, a 45-year-old unidentified Maoist was killed in East Godavari district in an exchange of fire with police and greyhound squad, engaged in combing operations.

Officer on Special Duty (OSD) V Satyanarayana said, five Maoists opened fire at the police. One Maoist got killed when the police party returned the fire.

Police recovered a 9 mm pistol, a tapancha, two hand grenades, country-made revolver and Maoist literature from the scene of the encounter.

In another incident at Singakota village in the district, police and Maoists exchanged fire. However, the Maoists threw high explosive hand grenades on the police party to escape from the scene.

A report from Guntur said Taluk Praja Parishad member and Congress leader T Ramireddy (60) was gunned down by outlawed Maoists at his residence in Vinukonda town, in the district today.

Official sources said Mr Ramireddy was entering his house after collecting his newspaper when two motorcycle borne naxals shot him from close range. By the time the neighbours tried to stop them, the Maoists fled from the scene.

Mr Ramireddy was in the hit list of Maoists and was living in Vinukonda town for security reasons.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government announced an exgratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the family member of T Ramireddy, a Hyderabad report said.

Condemning the naxal attacks on people representatives, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister K Jana Reddy said government jobs would be provided to one eligible person in Reddy's family.

He called on the people to condemn the attacks and violence unleashed by the Maoists in the state, the report added.

UNI team CS GKT PKS ND2302