Two suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were killed in an alleged encounter near Pedakodapalli village in Pedabayalu Mandal (administrative sub-division) in the Andhra Odisha Border (AOB) region of Visakha Agency in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh on March 16, reports The Hindu. According to Superintendent of Police (SP), Visakhapatnam, Attada Babujee, two parties of Greyhounds, the anti-Maoist Special Force of the Andhra Pradesh Police, and a few personnel from the 198 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were on a routine combing operation in the region. At around 12.30 a.m. a 20-member patrolling team of the Maoists from the Pedabayalu Area Committee opened fire at the Security Forces (SFs), Babujee said. The SFs retaliated and after the firing subsided, the Police team found two bodies reportedly belonging to the Maoists and recovered two country-made weapons, he claimed. One CRPF trooper was also injured in the exchange of fire. According to sources, the Maoist party comprised Dalam (armed squad) members and armed militia from neighbouring villages. The duo killed in the exchange of fire are identified as Sideri Annayya Dora (35) of Pedamamidi village and Batti Bushanam (54) of Pedakodapalli village.