Hyderabad: Three unidentified People' War Group (PWG) naxalites were killed while two others managed to flee after an exchange of fire with police near Ramasamudram lake between Chelapur and Gollapalli villages in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh early September 20.

Acting on a tip-off that some extremists were moving in the area for the last two days, a special police party combing the area stopped five persons on suspicion while they were travelling on two motorcycles near the lake, police sources said. Police asked them to reveal their identity, when two of them whipped out weapons and fired at them. No policeman was injured in the incident.

As the exchange of fire was on, two naxalites managed to escape on their two-wheelers, police said.

Later, police recovered three bodies, yet to be identified, from the scene. A revolver, tamancha and a bomb was also recovered from the spot, police said.

The district police has intensified the combing operation under Ghanpur mandal limits last week following reports that extremists have been indulging in collecting funds from contractors and traders by threatening them.

PTI