At least eight Maoists, including five women, were killed in an encounter with police at a forest area in insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh close to Telangana’s Khammam district early on Tuesday. A prominent Maoist leader from Telangana is believed to be among the eight rebels killed in the gunbattle, police sources said. br br It was a Joint Operation undertaken by Central Forces (CRPF), Chattisghad Spl. Police & Grey Hound teams of Telangana. 1 AK-47, 2 SLRs & some 302 Riffles have recovered from the Encounter spot. Dead bodies have been shifted to Bhadrachalam Hospital.