The Greyhounds, the elite anti-Naxal force of the state, attacked a Maoist training camp on the Andhra-Orissa border in Chitrakonda police station limits of Malkanjgiri on Friday noon.
Maoists retaliated by blasting claymore mines (directional mines) triggering a long gun battle but none of the Greyhounds personnel were injured. However, several Maoist cadres are said to have sustained bullet injuries.
Around 200 Maoists were camping in around 30 tents in the locale. They ran away, abandoning the tents after the gunbattle. Cops found 40 kitbags, several rifles and country made weapons from the scene. The incident took place at around 1.30 pm, about 10 km from the Visakhapatnam rural district border. Sources said Malkanjgiri district committee led by Bellam Narayana Swamy alias Damodar had organised the camp.
The director general of police, Mr R.R. Girish Kumar, said that the Greyhounds force had suffered no casualties or injuries. “We are assessing the situation,” he said.
Heavy combing operations were launched by Greyhounds and Visakhapatnam district special police units to trace the Maoists who fled the area. Additional forces were rushed in to prevent fleeing Maoists from sneaking into the state.