A Naxalite belonging to the CPI-ML (Janashakti) was killed while seven others escaped in an encounter with the police in Mulug forest in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday evening.

This is the first such encounter in the state in eight months since the Congress proposed peace talks soon after coming to power in May 2004. Though there were four encounters in Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar and Visakhapatnam [Images] districts in the last two months, there were no casualties.

• Andhra Maoists' kin get counselling

Acting on a tip-off that some Naxalites were extorting money in Jangupally village abutting the forest area in Mulug-Ghanpur mandal in Warangal district, a police team rushed to the place.

On the outskirts of the village, the team came across a group of eight Naxalites belonging to Naganna dalam (armed squad) of Janashakti (Rajanna group). When asked to surrender, the Naxalites opened fire. The exchange of fire lasted 15 minutes.

The police later found the body of a 30-year-old Naxalite and recovered one 8mm rifle and eight bags from the spot. One more Naxalite was seriously injured but was carried away by his colleagues.