Andhra Pradesh police on Sunday morning gunned down eight Maoists, including four women.

Prakasam district Superintendent of Police N Balasubramanyam told rediff.com over phone that special police parties launched a combing operation following a tip off that Maoists were meeting in the dense Nallamala forest near Yerragondapalem.

The search party spotted the Maoists, who the police claimed, opened fire.

In the hour-long exchange of fire that ensued, eight Maoists were killed on the spot while others managed to flee. One of those slain was identified as Jeevan, a CPI-Maoist district committee secretary from neighbouring Guntur district. The others are yet to be identified.