The Andhra Pradesh police, in the early hours of Sunday, killed five Maoists in an encounter.

Khammam District Superintendent of Police R K Meena said the exchange of fire took place in the deep forests near Venkatapuram village on the Andhra Pradesh-Chhattisgarh border between 0630 IST and 0700 IST.

A police party during a combing operation came face-to-face with a group of Maoists.

The police asked the Maoists to surrender, to which the Maoists responded by opening fire.

The police retaliated, killing five people on the spot. The police seized five weapons from the slain Maoists. The identities of the deceased were yet to be established, the SP added.