Following the Maoist attack on Atmakur police station in Nalgonda district adjoining Hyderabad, the police sounded a red alert in the state capital as well as Maoist-affected districts in the state.

The attack on the police station in the State Home Minister K Jana Reddy's home district comes nearly four weeks after the killing of Maoist state committee secretary Madhav and seven other Maoists by the police in an exchange of fire in Nallamala forests on July 23.

The timing of the attack also coincides with the renewal of the ban on Communist Party of India-Maoist and six of its frontal organisations by the state government for another year effective from August 17.

According to sources, a group of 10 to 12 Maoists came on foot and stormed Atmakur police station, taking the police personnel there by surprise. The Maoists snapped the power supply to the police station before the attack took place around 9.30 pm.

The Maoists first barged into the residential quarters of sub-inspector Chand Pasha located behind the police station. They overpowered the sub-inspector, snatched his revolver and dragged him out. They later entered the police station and beat up assistant sub-inspector Moinuddin, constable Karim and home guard Lingaiah.

Subsequently, the Maoists dragged the four police personnel into the police station compound, tied their hands and then tied them to trees or poles and fired at them at point blank range. Sub-inspector Chand Pasha (54), assistant sub-inspector Moinuddin (40) and home guard Lingaiah (22) died on the spot while constable Karim (42) suffered critical injuries.

A Maoist fired an extra round on the constable when he tried to escape from the spot. Karim cried for help but in vain. The Maoists later blasted the police station.

A portion of the building was partially damaged. Before fleeing from the spot, the Maoists raised slogans claiming that the attack was in retaliation to the killing of their comrades, including state committee secretary, in July. They left behind a letter asking the ruling Congress Party leaders to quit their posts. Maoists also took away the revolver snatched from the sub-inspector.

For sometime, nobody from the small township went near the police station. Later, a few civilians ventured into the police station premises, called a private vehicle and shifted the critically injured constable to a hospital in Hyderabad.

The police reinforcements reached the place only after midnight. The district police sounded red alert and deployed special parties for combing operations to track down the Maoists.

Police blocked all the roads for 40 km in and around Atmakur and launched frisking operations.

Since the police station is located on the borders of Warangal district, the police suspect that Maoists from the neighbouring district were involved in the attack.

The Maoists had used AK-47 rifles, the police surmised on the basis of bullet injuries.

The police station was "unguarded" since the police had removed the firearms from there recently, on the eve of local bodies elections, fearing an attack by Maoists to loot the arms. The police personnel were unarmed and could not offer any resistance. Central Reserve Police Force did not guard the police station either, unlike many others in Maoist-affected areas.

Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy reviewed the incident with Home Minister K Jana Reddy and Director-General of Police Swaranjit Sen.

The security was further beefed up for the VVIPs, including the Chief Minister and Ministers, as well as top police officials on the hit list of the Maoists.