Two Maoists were killed in an alleged encounter with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police. One CRPF constable was also injured in the incident.
According to Vishakapatanam Rural police, the encounter is believed to have taken place sometime between midnight and 1.30 am on Saturday.
The joint operation was conducted by 198 CRPF Battallion and Andhra Pradesh Police. Following the encounter, the injured CRPF person is stable and being treated at Vishakapatanam Hospital.
Speaking to TNM, Vishakapatanam Rural SP Babujee Attada said, "The encounter broke out around midnight during a combing operation in Pedababyalu mandal. Two Maoists were killed while a CRPF constable was injured."
Police believe that the Maoists could have slipped into region as elections approach to create a disturbance. The SP further stated that "the combing operations are still underway in the area. Two weapons were collected from the place of incident."
The two Maoists have not yet been identified.
In recent months, authorities have reported the presence of CPI (Maoist) activities in the eastern ghats in Visakhapatanam district. In September 2018, Maoists allegedly killed two ruling TDP MLAs, Kidari Somehwara Rao and former MLA Siveri Soma.