Vijayawada: The presence of Maoists in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, and surrounding areas created a stir on Tuesday as police arrested 31 Naxals, including some top leaders belonging to Chhattisgarh.

As many as 27 Maoists were arrested from a four-storey building at New Autonagar in Kanuru neighbourhood in Vijayawada.

Nine members of the Central Committee of CPI(Maoists) were suspected to be among those arrested by OCTOPUS and Greyhounds personnel with the help of local police.

Most of the arrested Maoists were women, who had reportedly taken shelter in the guise of labourers.

Security personnel carried out searches following an intelligence alert that Maoists had taken shelter in the city.

Additional Director General (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha said a total of 31 Maoists wer

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