Hyderabad: For the CPI Maoist, the dreaded and most powerful leftist outlawed organisation in India, active in more than a dozen states, Monday’s encounter with security forces spelt the deadliest blow in its history.

Among the 24 militants killed were many of the top leaders of the underground movement.

Adding insult to the injury, the combined forces of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha were able to deliver the blow in an area believed to be the safest zone for the Maoists.

Chitrakonda forest, in Malkangiri district near Balimela reservoir, had such a reputation of being a fortress of Maoists and a cut-off zone that police used to avoid entering the area.

The area, spread over 150 villages, was considered cut off because it had no link with other parts after the construction of Balimela reservoir. This virtually turned it into a safe heaven for Maoist for the greater part of the last decade.

The Maoists, headed by Garajala Ravi, were ruling the region with impunity.

The same reservoir had witnessed the killing of 35 Greyhound commandos and three civilians in June 2008 when Maoists had ambushed a boat carrying the group in the reservoir.

This time, the police managed to the turn the tables.

As intelligence poured in from different sources, top officials chalked out plans at Visakhapatnam airport and the commandos arrived in the vicinity two days in advance.

Odisha police got the first clue about the imminent gathering of Maoists when they arrested some local people including messengers (couriers) and grilled them.

They had also observed the movement of large quantities of grains and other essential commodities through the forest.

The operation’s plans were finalised jointly after Odisha police arrested the militants’ Andhra Pradesh counterparts, as the location was close to the AP border.

The meticulously planned operation was carried out as the Maoists, including their most senior leader in the AP-Odisha border area, Rama Krishna alias RK or Akkiraju Haragopa, had gathered for a plenary to chalk out the future course of action to further strengthen and intensify their activities, especially in Andhra Pradesh.

While RK, surrounded by three layers of security comprising 70 guards, managed to escape the police dragnet, officials in Andhra Pradesh believe those killed in the attack include division secretary Ramachandra Reddy alias Chalapathi, his wife and Nandapur area committee secretary Aruna, Malkangiri-Koraput-Srikakulam division committee secretary and AOB Special Zone Committee member Gajarala Ravi alias Uday, another SZC member Venkataramanna alias Ganesh, Koraput divisional committee secretary Ch Krishnamurthy alias Daya.

Gajarala Ravi, a native of Warangal district had also participated in the 2005 peace talks as member of the CPI Maoist team.

Another blow was the death of Munna, son of Rama Krishna alias RK, secretary AOB Special Zone Committee.

Munna had joined the Maoists recently.

RK’s wife Srisha, a schoolteacher in Hyderabad was arrested in 2010 forcing him to be more cautious.

RK was on the top of the most wanted Maoist leaders in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chattisgarh.

Earlier he was the head of Andhra Pradesh Committee Secretary based in Nallamalla forest in Kurnool district until he led the Maoists’ team in peace talks with Y.S.R. Rajasekhar Reddy government in 2005.

Later he managed to escape from a police dragnet in the Nallamalla forest and shifted his base to Bastar region.

According to the intelligence sources, RK, along with his son, had stepped up efforts to revive and strengthen the CPI Maoist in Andhra Pradesh.

According to the details of yesterday’s operation by the elite anti-Maoist commando Greyhounds force of AP and Special Force of Odisha, after surrounding the gathering, the forces pushed the Maoists towards the ferry point of Balimela reservoir.

Three more teams of the combined forces lay there in ambush for the fleeing Maoists and many of the militants were killed at the point.

The operation left 24 Maoists including 8 women dead.

Officers found 50 kit bags on the spot, and police top brass belief many Maoists are on the run in the area.

Combing operations by the forces of the two states were still continuing.

At least four AK-47 ten rifles, three SLRs, and huge ammunitions were also recovered from the scene of the encounter.