Seven Maoists of the banned CPI (Maoist) were killed in an exchange of fire with the police in the Maredumilli forests of Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district early on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. This was the second encounter within 24 hours in the same region.
Top Maoist Leader Tech Shankar Among the Dead
Police confirmed that senior Maoist leader Metturi Joga Rao, also known as Tech Shankar, was among those killed.
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He was a Central Committee Member of the CPI (Maoist) and the in-charge of the Andhra Odisha Border (AOB) region. Officials said he specialised in technical operations for the banned outfit.
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Encounter Began Early Morning
According to Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha, the encounter started around 7 a.m. and firing was still continuing when initial reports came in.
Among the seven Maoists killed, four were men and three were women. Police said some of them were believed to be part of the group that escaped during Tuesday’s encounter.
Second Encounter in 24 Hours
On Tuesday, November 18, six Maoists were killed in another encounter near G.M. Valasa in the same district.
Those killed included top commander Madvi Hidma, a Central Committee Member and South Bastar Battalion Commandant, and his wife Madakam Raje, a Chhattisgarh State Zonal Committee Member.
Identification Underway
Police are now working to identify the remaining Maoists who died in Wednesday’s encounter. Security forces continue combing operations in the area as the exchange of fire has not fully ended.