Hyderabad, Feb 27: A block-level BJP secretary was gunned down by Naxals while a CPI (ML) deputy commander was killed in an exchange of fire in Karimnagar district Andhra Pradesh in wake of the day-long bandh, called by the outlawed People's War Group (PWG) and Maoists Communist Centre (MCC) in nine states across the country including Andhra Pradesh on Friday. The ultras, who have called for a state bandh protesting against police atrocities on their cadres and alleged fake encounters, shot dead Dharmaram mandal BJP secretary N Shankar at Medaram village on Friday morning, police said here.

Two armed Naxals went to the village on a cycle and intercepted Shankar who was riding a two-wheeler and shot him dead. Shankar was on the hit list of the PWG, police said.

According to a report from Karimnagar, P Kondal Reddy, deputy commander of Janashakti group of CPI (ML), was killed in an exchange of fire with police at Gudem outskirts of Mustabad police station limits last night. Later, the police recovered one revolver from the slain Naxal, the report said. State police has been put on high alert as the daylong bandh began on Friday in the backdrop of recent spurt in Naxalite violence. Strict vigil is being maintained in vulnerable areas, particularly in Naxalite-affected Telangana districts and Nallamala forest region.

The PWG in Andhra Pradesh has, of late, stepped up its violence targeting political leaders of ruling TDP and its ally BJP and policemen. Along with the state, the PWG and MCC have called for bandh in Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to protest against their "severe repression by the Centre". Bureau Report