Maoists shot dead two policemen in Visakhapatnam [Images] district on Wednesday evening.

According to police, an action team of Maoists waylaid a bus near Lotugedda bridge near Chintapalli town. They entered the bus and picked up two unarmed policemen who were in plainclothes. The policemen were brought out and shot dead at point blank range even as the other bus passengers and crew watched the scene in horror.

The victims were identified as Head Constable P Krishna and Constable C Ramana of AP Special Police who were assigned for the security of Annavaram police station in the remote tribal belt.

Another constable, however, had a miraculous escape as the Maoist assailants could not identify him.

Special police parties launched combing operations in the area following the incident.