Anti-naxal squad personnel still missing

Naval divers were pressed into operation to look for 36 personnel of an elite anti-naxal force who were feared drown in a reservoir in Andhra Pradesh- Orissa border.

Naval divers were on monday pressed into operation to look for 36 personnel of an elite anti-naxal force who were feared drown in a reservoir in Andhra Pradesh- Orissa border where their launch sunk after being fired upon by Maoists.

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Reports reaching here said three more personnel of a 64-member strong squad of Andhra Pradesh's Greyhound force swam to the banks with injuries, official sources said, adding they were immediately air-lifted to Bhuwaneswar for treatment.

The condition of the injured was serious, they said.

The launch, carrying the squad which included one Orissa police constable and two boatmen, came under heavy gunfire unleashed by Naxals from a hilltop in Malkangiri district of Orissa on sunday.

While 25 people swam to safety by sunday afternoon, three more reached the shores late in the evening.