Guntur: Four naxalites, including two hardcore People's War Group (PWG) men, were killed in two separate encounters even as the ultras shot dead an ex-sarpanch and attempted to blow up a telephone exchange in Andhra Pradesh in the wee hours of February 16.

A police party, combing the forest area near Sirigiripadu village in the district, spotted a group of naxals. When asked to surrender, the ultras opened fire, police said.

Police retaliated, killing two naxals, while the others escaped under the cover of darkness.

Earlier, the naxals had gone on the rampage at Sirigiripadu, where they shot dead Hanimareddy, an ex-sarpanch, suspecting him to be a police spy. They also attempted to blow up a telephone exchange housed in his building, police added.

In another incident, two unidentified naxalites were killed in an encounter with police in Warangal district.

The exchange of fire took place near Rampur village under Kothagudam police station limits when a special police party cornered a group of ultras holed up in their hideout.

On seeing the police, the ultras opened fire, which was retaliated by police killing two naxalites on the spot while four of their accomplices escaped, they said.

An American-made 9 mm pistol and a grenade were recovered from the spot, police added.

Earlier, an attempt by naxals to blow up the car of former state Chief Minister N Janardhan Reddy was foiled by policemen when they defused a landmine under a culvert over which Reddy was to pass on February 15 in Guntur district.

PTI