As many as six dalam commanders were among those killed.

While a joint combing operation was underway by the anti-naxalite forces of AP and Chattisgarh, the police came upon a large group of Naxalites who opened fire on them. Fourteen Naxalites died as police retaliated.

In another encounter in the same area, three Naxalites were killed. The two encounters took place between Cherla and Pamedu police stations limits in the forest.

Home Minister K Jana Reddy said the combing operation was to continue mainly in Bijapur district of Chattisgarh.

A large cache of arms and ammunition have been recovered.

‘Naked killings’?

However, revolutionary bard Gaddar and poet Varavara Rao have contended that it was clear that the encounters were ‘naked’ killings. “How come not a single policeman was injured when so many naxalites have died,” asked Rao.

Gaddar said the Congress government policies had resulted in “rivers overflowing with blood.” He said as long as people’s problems like land and water were not solved, Naxalism could not be eliminated.