According to the police, search operations are underway in Kerala's Nilambur region.
At least two Maoists have been killed, according to sources, in a police encounter today in Kerala's Malappuram district.
A special team of the police and Maoists began exchanging fire on Wednesday afternoon at a place called Nilambur in the district. According to news agency Press Trust of India, the police retaliated after the Maoists opened fire.
"It was a motivated action by the police," state DGP Loknath Behra was quoted by the agency as saying.
One of those killed has been identified as a Central Committee Member of CPI(Maoist) Kuppu Swamy alias Deva Raj, a native of Karnataka state.
The second Maoist killed has been identified as Ajitha, a woman. Unconfirmed reports say a third person killed is yet to be identified. PTI further stated that search operations are still underway
The police, acting on a tip-off, had engaged in firing with alleged Maoists in the last week of September in Nilambur. No casualty was reported.