Eight more bodies retrieved: 3 still missing

Visakhapatnam, July 7 (UNI) Eight more bodies of Greyhound commandos were retrieved today from the launch sunk in Sileru Reservoir near Balimela on the Andhra-Orissa Border (AOB) in a Naxal attack on June 29.

This has taken the total number of bodies recovered to 33.

District police Superintendent Akun Sabharwal said the Canandian company's imported balloon technology efforts were used to lift the launch to the shore.

The bodies were identified as P Venkata Rao (Palakonda, Sri Kakulam District), Yadagiri (RSI - Hanumankonda in Warangal District), M Hanumanth (Ananthpur District), Y Wasim (constable - Mehboob Nagar District), K Narasimham (PC - Khammam District), A Kesavilu (Nellore District), L Shankar (PC - Prakasham District) and P Gopi Reddy (PC - Krishna District).

The bodies were then airlifted to KGH hospital in the city for post mortem.

The police also recovered nine AK47 guns, three SLR guns, two revolvers and a few kit bags from the cabin of the launch.

Search was going on in full swing to trap three more missing bodies, he added.

UNI BSR GKT MIR AS2056 After eight-days, the motor launch which sunk in the Sileru Reservoir, near Balimela, on the Andhra-Orissa Border during an ambush by naxals on the elite Greyhound Commandos on June 29 was retrieved from the water at midnight last night.

SP Akun Sabharwal here today said the launch was retrieved from a depth of 143 feet with the help of three powerful ballons (salvage bags) and high quality steel wires.

Police sources said some bodies could be trapped inside the cabin.

Meanwhile, the bodies of nine Greyhound personnel bearing bullet marks were found.

UNI BSR GM 1053