Hyderabad, Oct 12 - Maoist guerrillas in Andhra Pradesh Monday gunned down an extremist who had surrendered to police. The rebels suspected he was a police informer, officials said.

The incident took place in the early hours of Monday at Yatnaram village in Karimnagar district, about 200 km from here.

Police said about eight men belonging to CPI (Maoist) shot dead Ramlal after dragging him out of his house. Ramlal, a former 'dalam' (or armed squad) commander of CPI-ML Pratighatna group, had surrendered two years ago.

Maoists suspected Ramlal was an informer of the police. In the past, guerrillas have killed surrendered associates and villagers for acting as police informers.

The latest incident came amid reports that Maoists were trying to regroup in some parts of the state, which was a traditional stronghold for them.

Police claimed that the activities of CPI (Maoist) were at their lowest ebb following successful anti-Maoist operations which resulted in the killing of over 400 guerrillas including several top leaders in the past four years.

Director General of Police Girish Kumar Sunday said Maoists were perpetrating violence in neighbouring Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh and that there were chances of them entering the state.

Meanwhile, senior Maoist leader Malla Raji Reddy, who was released on bail last week, has reportedly disappeared.

Raji Reddy, a former member of central working committee of CPI (Maoist), was arrested in Kerala in 2007. He has been accused in several cases including the murder of former assembly speaker D. Sripada Rao.

Reddy, who is from Karimnagar district, was acquitted in some cases. (IANS)