According to Kadapa District Superintendent of Police Y Nagi Reddy, the encounter took place near Pulusugunda village in Seshachalam forests in Sundupalle mandal in Pulivendula sub-division.

The encounter site is located in Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy's home constituency � Pulivendula -- in his native district, about 500 km southeast of Hyderabad.

This is the first time in the current year that such a large number of Maoists have been killed in a single incident.

On information that a platoon of 30 Maoists were holding a meeting on the hillocks in the deep forests and planning for an offensive, the police parties consisting of district armed reserve and Greyhounds (elite anti-extremist commandos) launched combing operations.

The police party came across a group of Maoists and surrounded them at around 7 am. The Maoists opened fire when the police asked them to surrender. The police returned the fire. In the ensuing exchange of fire, which lasted an hour, nine Maoists were killed on the spot, while others managed to escape.

The police did not suffer any casualties. The slain Maoists, including six women, are yet to be identified but Director-General of Police Swaranjit Sen told newsmen in Hyderabad that those killed in the encounter might include some top leaders of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist).

"The police recovered Rs 300,000 in cash from the spot, including Rs 200,000 from the pockets of a slain Maoist. Obviously, he is a top Maoist functionary," the DGP added.

The police recovered nine weapons, including one sten gun, one .303 rifle, one .38 revolver, two self-loading rifles and three single-bore barrel guns, lot of ammunition, 38 improvised rockets, some claymore mines, a time bomb, 30 kit bags and tents from the encounter site.

A police spokesman said that the area is located in a tri-junction of Chittoor, Anantapur and Kadapa districts. The Maoists have been quite active in the area for the last two years because the interior forested area is inaccessible. The local administration is not very active there.