An encounter has taken place between Naxalites and soldiers in the forest of Mardepalli in Andhra Pradesh, adjacent to Sukma in Chhattisgarh. In the anti-Naxal operation, the soldiers have achieved a major success by killing big Naxal leaders. It is being claimed that Naxal commander Gajarala alias Uday and VRL Chaitanya alias Aruna, a member of the Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) killed in Gariaband, have been killed.

So far, 2-3 Naxalites have been reported killed in this operation. The encounter is still going on in the area. Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar has confirmed this.

According to the information, an encounter has been going on between Naxalites and soldiers since early morning in the Kintupuru forest area. Firing is going on from both sides. In this encounter, the soldiers have killed three top Naxal commanders. Weapons have also been recovered from the spot. Gajarala and Aruna are claimed to have been killed in the encounter. Gajarala Ravi had participated in peace talks with the state government during the tenure of then Chief Minister YS Rajashekhar Reddy in 2004-05. While he was a part of the People's War Group, Aruna was a member of the Andhra Pradesh Zonal Committee.