
Three Maoists including central committee member killed in encounter with police in Andhra's ASR
VISAKHAPATNAM: Three Maoists, including a senior Central Committee Member of the banned CPI (Maoist), were killed in an exchange of fire with the Greyhounds, near Akooru village in the Maredumilli forest area of Alluri Sitarama Raju district on Wednesday morning.
According to police sources, the encounter took place during a combing operation in the forest region near Rampachodavaram.
The deceased Maoists were identified as Gajarla Ravi alias Uday, a Central Committee Member of the CPI (Maoist) and Secretary of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC); Aruna, a South Zonal Committee Member and wife of the late Central Committee Member Chalapathi, who was recently killed in Chhattisgarh; and another member.
According to initial reports, security forces recovered three AK-47 rifles from the encounter site. No injuries or casualties were reported among the police personnel.
Efforts are underway to retrieve the bodies from the location.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
How a trail of rifles from Dimapur to Muzaffarpur exposed India's hidden arms corridor
When the National Investigation Agency (NIA) lodged a supplementary chargesheet against four Bihar residents for gunrunning, it tore asunder the velvet curtain on a clandestine arms pipeline. The NIA probe revealed how military-grade weapons slipped from the misty bazaars of Nagaland into the hands of Naxalite insurgents and ruthless criminal syndicates across Bihar and four suppliers have been arrested so far, and transactions totalling Rs 58 lakh traced to two bank accounts—but who can say how many more shadowy figures prowl Bihar's underbelly, trading death for profit?advertisementThe platform seizureThe saga began in May 2024, when Muzaffarpur Rail Police stopped two young men—Vikash Kumar and Satyam Kumar—on the station platform and found on them the butt and optical scope of an AK-47. The two confessed to supplying a complete AK-47 rifle and five rounds of ammunition to Devmani Rai. A raid at Rai's safe house yielded the weapon and cartridges, and two days later the net closed on yet another operative: Ahmed Ansari, traced to Dimapur in Nagaland. Financial forensicsInvestigators soon uncovered a web of pecuniary evidence. Rai's Muzaffarpur bank account showed inflows of Rs 38 lakh between April 2022 and April 2024, while an IDFC First Bank account in Dimapur, held by Ansari, received deposits of Rs 20 lakh from March 2023 to April 2024. These sums, investigators believe, underpinned the procurement and shipment of prohibited breadcrumbsFive mobile phones—seized from Kumar, Ansari and a co-accused—proved equally illuminating. A report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in New Delhi confirmed photographs of an AK-47, a Beretta pistol and an Austrian-made Glock, alongside images of an unidentified individual and railway tickets for journeys between Muzaffarpur and Dimapur. Call-detail records further mapped a tight network of communication linking all four suspects, who shared a common contact in one Ranjeet Das of shadow marketDimapur, Nagaland's commercial heart, has long been a nexus for licit trade and contraband alike. Its porous frontiers—with Myanmar to the east and Assam's plains to the west—have enabled insurgent groups to source arms via local fixers. Investigators now believe Ansari tapped this very network, purchasing genuine AK-47 components for cash and dispatching them by rail, concealed among mechanical spares or agriculture equipment—cargo that seldom attracts December raidsSeven months after the initial arrest, the NIA conducted searches at 17 locations in December 2024—six in Bihar alone. In Mankauli village, Muzaffarpur district, agents searched the home of panchayat chief Nand Kishore Yadav (aka Bhola Rai), seizing ledgers, walkie-talkies and lakhs in cash.A network of fixersAt the heart of this operation were not hardened militants but local functionaries, including an elected panchayat head, tasked with safe-keeping rifle parts, arranging forged permits and coordinating payments. Bhola Rai's ledger listed payments in lakhs to shell firms in Nagaland; municipal records from Parsa hinted that local funds were diverted to accounts linked to Ansari's network. These intermediaries lacked ideological motive, instead viewing arms trafficking as a lucrative commercial interstate arms corridorTaken together, these findings expose a far-reaching pipeline: prohibited arms procured in Dimapur's shadow markets, ferried into Bihar via India's vast rail and road networks, and distributed to insurgents and criminal syndicates alike. Eastern India's border states—West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya—serve as entry points for smuggled weapons and explosives, which then transit to the Gangetic plains, fuelling pockets of extremist and reflectionToday, as the NIA continues to sift through terabytes of mobile-phone data and financial logs, one question looms large: how did AK-47 components traverse hundreds of kilometres unchecked? The four accused now languish in jail, facing charges under the Arms Act and, since May, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Yet, for security analysts, the true victory will be sealing the systemic gaps that allowed this pipeline to findings expose a far-reaching pipeline: prohibited arms procured in Dimapur's shadow markets, ferried into Bihar via India's vast rail and road networks, and distributed to insurgents and criminal syndicates alike. The couriers travelled not just by train, but also in a black Mahindra Thar—registered under the name of Devmani Rai's mother—its bulky frame offering an unremarkable disguise for smuggling weapons and ferrying cash. It was a calculated use of middle-class respectability to mask underworld the Bihar election on the horizon and security forces braced for more cross-border arms inflows, the Muzaffarpur–Dimapur saga stands as a stark reminder: India's decades-long struggle against internal insurgency no longer plays out solely in remote jungles or rugged hills—it courses along rail tracks and highways, threading through villages, municipalities and even courtrooms. At every junction, it demands sharper vigilance, deeper coordination and an unwavering resolve to confront the traffickers who profit from to India Today Magazine


Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Two days of terror: How the Minnesota shooter evaded police and got caught
* Two days of terror: How the Minnesota shooter evaded police and got caught Boelter, impersonating police officer, eluded capture for 2 days * New Hope police officer mistook him for police in key encounter * Manhunt ranks as Minnesota's largest ever, involving cooperation from dozens of local, state and federal agencies By Nathan Layne NEW HOPE, Minnesota, - Vance Boelter's disguise wasn't perfect. The silicone mask was somewhat loose-fitting and his SUV's license plate simply read "POLICE" in black letters. But it was good enough on a poorly lit suburban street in the dead of night. At 2:36 a.m. on Saturday, 30 minutes after authorities say Boelter shot and seriously injured Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, he paused behind the wheel of the SUV near the home of another senator, Ann Rest, in the city of New Hope. The SUV was stocked with weapons, including AK-47 assault rifles, as well as fliers advertising a local anti-Trump rally scheduled for later Saturday and a written list of names of people he appeared to be targeting. Senator Rest, prosecutors would later say, was among those Boelter set out to kill on June 14. As Boelter sat in the SUV down the street from Rest's home, another police car - this one an actual police car - approached. A female officer from the New Hope police department, after hearing about the Hoffman shootings, had come out to check on Rest. Seeing the SUV, complete with flashing lights and police-style decals, she believed the man inside was a fellow officer. But when she attempted to speak to him - one officer greeting another - she got no response. Instead, the man inside the SUV with police markings simply stared ahead. The New Hope officer drove on, deciding to go ahead and check on Rest. Rest would later say the New Hope officer's initiative probably saved her life, an opinion shared by New Hope Police Chief Timothy Hoyt. "With limited information, she went up there on her own to check on the welfare of our senator," Hoyt told Reuters. "She did the right thing." The brief interaction in New Hope underscored the carefully planned nature of Boelter's pre-dawn rampage and how his impersonation of a police officer, including body armor, a badge and a tactical vest, confounded the initial attempts to stop him. After the encounter with the New Hope officer, Boelter, 57, drove away from the scene, moving on to his next target. Police would pursue him for another 43 hours. In the process, they would draw in a phalanx of state and federal agencies, in what ranks as the largest manhunt in Minnesota history and added to the sense of disorientation in a nation already grappling with protests over immigration, the forcible removal of a U.S. Senator from a press conference and a rare military parade in Washington. Federal prosecutors say they may seek the death penalty for Boelter, who has been charged with murdering two people and trying to kill two others, in what Governor Tim Walz has called a "politically motivated" attack. Prosecutors said they are still investigating the motive and whether any others were involved. Boelter has yet to enter a plea. Manny Atwal, a public defender representing Boelter, said he was reviewing the case and declined to comment. This reconstruction of the manhunt is based on court documents, statements by law enforcement officials, and interviews with a Boelter friend, local police officers, lawmakers, and residents of the impacted neighborhoods. While the events unfolded like something out of a TV crime drama, there were parallels with past shooting sprees, criminal justice experts said. James Fitzgerald, a former FBI criminal profiler, said he would not be surprised if Boelter studied a mass shooting in Canada in 2020, when a gunman posing as a police officer killed 22 people in the province of Nova Scotia. "These guys always do research beforehand. They want to see how other killers were successful, how they got caught," said Fitzgerald, who helped the FBI capture the "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski in 1996. "And, of course, a way you're going to buy yourself some time is to pose as a police officer." HOFFMAN SHOOTING The violence began at the Hoffman's brick split-level home in Champlin, a leafy, middle-class suburb of Minneapolis. With his emergency lights flashing, Boelter pulled into the driveway just after 2:00 a.m. and knocked on the door. "This is the police. Open the door," Boelter shouted repeatedly, according to an FBI affidavit. Senator Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, soon determined Boelter was not a real police officer. Boelter shot Senator Hoffman nine times, and then fired on Yvette, who shielded her daughter from being hit. As Boelter fled the scene, the daughter called 911. The Hoffmans were on a target list of more than 45 federal and state elected officials in Minnesota, all Democrats, acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson told a briefing on Monday. Boelter voted for President Donald Trump, was a Christian and did not like abortion, according to his part-time roommate, David Carlson. Carlson said Boelter did not seem angry about politics. Thompson said Boelter "stalked his victims like prey" but that the writings he left behind did not point to a coherent motive. "His crimes are the stuff of nightmares," he said. "His crimes are the stuff of nightmares," Thompson said. After the Hoffman's, the next address plugged into Boelter's GPS system was a lawmaker about 9 miles away in the Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove. Surveillance cameras from the home of State Representative Kristin Bahner show a masked Boelter ringing the doorbell at 2:24 a.m. and shouting "Open the door. This is the police. We have a warrant," the FBI affidavit says. Bahner and her family were not at home. From there, Boelter moved on to New Hope and the close encounter with the officer who had dispatched to Rest's home. After that, he wasn't seen by police again until he arrived at the residence of Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the state House, in Brooklyn Park. Sensing that Hortman might be a target, Brooklyn Park police officers had decided to check on her. When they arrived at 3:30 a.m. they saw a black Ford Explorer outside her house, its police-style lights flashing. Boelter was near the front door. When Boelter saw the officers exit their squad car, he fired at them. He then ran through the front door on the house, where he killed Melissa and Mark Hortman, her husband. 'DAD WENT TO WAR' When Boelter left the Hortman's home, he abandoned his fake-police SUV. Inside the car, police found a 9mm handgun, three AK-47 assault rifles, fliers advertising a local anti-Trump "No Kings" rally and a notebook with names of people who appear to have been targets, according to court documents. From that point, Boelter was on the run. Little has been revealed about his movements during the period, although police say he visited his part-time residence in north Minneapolis. He also sent texts. In one, to his family's group chat, Boelter writes, "Dad went to war last night". In another, to a close friend, Boelter says he may be dead soon. Police also know that by early morning on Saturday Boelter had met a man at a Minneapolis bus stop who agreed to sell him an e-bike and a Buick sedan for $900. The two drove to a bank where Boelter withdrew $2,200 from his account. A security camera shows Boelter wearing a cowboy hat. But it took until 10:00 a.m. on Sunday for authorities to close in. Police searching the area near Boelter's family home in the rural community of Green Isle, discovered the abandoned Buick, along with a cowboy hat and handwritten letter to the FBI in which Boelter admitted to the shootings, prosecutors said. Law enforcement scrambled to set up a perimeter surrounding the area, SWAT teams and search dogs were deployed, and drones were put in the air. It was the trail camera of a resident, however, that provided the final clue, capturing an image of Boelter around 7:00 p.m., allowing officers to narrow their search. Two hours later, the pursuit ended with Boelter crawling to police. He was armed but surrendered without a fight. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
What did the Feds find in Vance Boelter's house? Here's a full list
Last week, Federal authorities cuffed the accused Minnesota shooter, Vance Boelter, for carrying out the deadly shooting of lawmakers. Images of weapons found in a vehicle associated to Vance Boelter is displayed as the U.S. Attorney's Office announces plans to charge Boelter. REUTERS/Tim Evans(REUTERS) He is now facing severe federal charges, including two counts of murder with a firearm, stalking charges related to Rep. Melissa Hortman and Sen. John Hoffman. Since then, the Fed search continues. Earlier this week, they found five additional firearms, including an AK-47 and a 'large quantity' of ammunition in Boelter's SUV. They also recovered duffel bags loaded with tactical gear, a hit list, and a discarded rubber mask. ALSO READ| Accused Minnesota shooter faces six federal charges. Here's how much prison time he may face What the Feds found in Vance Boelter's house and storage units Now, search warrants reveal what the Feds found inside Boelter's Green Isle, Minnesota home and storage units in Minneapolis: At Boelter's Green Isle home: 48 firearms Boxes of ammunition A camouflage suit A notecard listing names of public officials Multiple computers Nearly $18,000 in cash 12 registered vehicles At two storage units in Minneapolis: Storage unit 1: Empty rifle cases Gun cleaning supplies A bicycle Storage unit 2 (on 4600 block of Lyndale Ave N): A duffel bag containing five body bags Gun cases A pair of pants More gun cleaning supplies A grey tarp ALSO READ| Minnesota shooter Vance Boelter's alarming notes reveal his disturbing plans; Did they include Jeff Bezos' ex-wife? Boelter's wife also spoke with police on 14 June, the day of the attacks. She said she received an early morning text from Boelter in a family group chat. The message read like a goodbye note, per the search warrants. 'He was sorry,' she reportedly told investigators. He also sent her a direct message urging her to leave their home and go to a relative's place in northern Minnesota, telling her to take the family's belongings and get out to avoid being 'implicated in this.' Notably, the search warrants also revealed that Boelter had recently ordered a silicone face mask from Amazon, which his wife also confirmed. The federal case also notes that when Boelter's wife was pulled over in Mille Lacs County on Saturday, she agreed to a vehicle search. Inside, officers found two pistols, another $10,000 in cash, and passports for all of their children and Boelter himself. ALSO READ| Who is Jonathan Bohn? Minnesota lobbyist accused of threatening to shoot lawmakers over text Authorities also obtained warrants to search Boelter's WhatsApp account and his U.S. Bank records, though the findings from those have not yet been made public.