Four Maoists, including a top district committee functionary, were killed in an encounter with the police in Warangal district in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.

According to the police, the encounter took place near Venkatapuram village in Warangal district. The police parties were combing the forest area on specific information that a group of Naxalites was planning an operation to kill elected public representatives.

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When one of the police parties spotted the Maoists and asked them to surrender, they opened fire.

The police retaliated, killing four Maoists on the spot. The dead include T Vijaykumar Swamy, alias Yadanna, Communist Party of India-Maoist district committee secretary of Warangal and Khammam districts.

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The 40-year-old Yadanna was involved in many violent incidents, including an attack on Hanamakonda police station and several murder cases.

Among the three others killed in the encounter, one was identified as Prameela, wife of North Telangana Special Zonal Committee member Somanna.

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The police recovered an AK-47 rifle and a few other weapons from the encounter site. Combing operations were still on, Warangal Superintendent of Police Stephen Ravindra said.