Several anti naxalite teams of the police launched extensive combing operations in the Nallamala forest ranges spread over four districts on Monday amid reports that they were closing in on a couple of top leaders in Arthaveedu mandal of Prakasam district. The police were said to have come close to the hideout of military commission chairman of the Maoists S Apparao but senior police officers have strongly denied it.
A senior officer did not admit that the forces were on the prowl but the extremists were sighted nor was there a gun battle. It might have been a false alarm from the extremists noticing the movement of the forces. Senior officer could not establish contacts with the police teams as they were deep inside the forest.