AP cops gun down 8 Maoists

MAHABUBNAGAR: Andhra Pradesh police on Tuesday gunned down eight Maoists including top dalam commander Mahesh in the forests of Amarabad mandal in Mahabubnagar district in an encounter, which is still continuing.

The militants killed included six women Maoists.

Initial reports said the Greyhounds, the anti-insurgency strike group and the Special Operations Group, acting on a tip off, were combing the forest area in Amarabad, especially in view of the first phase of Panchayat Raj elections slated on Wednesday.

Dalam commander Mahesh and deputy commander Swaroopa were suspected to be among the militants killed, official sources here said.