A sub-inspector of police was killed and a circle inspector sustained bullet injuries in an exchange of fire between police parties from Khammam and Visakhapatnam in a hotel in the temple town of Bhadrachalam on Wednesday night.

On a tip-off, a five-member police party led by Palvancha rural sub-inspector V Ashok Kumar raided the temple town on a manhunt for an arms supplier with Maoist links who was to check into a hotel near the bus station complex.

The sub-inspector and other policemen checked into a hotel room expecting the visit of the arms supplier.

At the same time, another police team from Visakhapatnam district led by Araku inspector of police Rajendra Kumar, along with local policemen, raided the same hotel, in search of the same elusive arms dealer.

Araku police team knocked at the door of room No. 208 where Palvancha police team was staying. As soon as the door opened, there was firing from both the sides owing to mistaken identity. The exchange of fire lasted 20 minutes in which sub-inspector Ashok was killed and inspector Rajendra Kumar sustained injuries.

The firing ceased after both sides revealed their identity. The local police had no information about the arrival of the police party from Palvancha though they knew about the arrival of the police party from Araku.

It transpired that a surrendered Naxalite belonging to Adivasi Liberation Tiger Dalam (armed squad) of CPI (ML) Praja Pratighatana had misled the police promising to help them nab an arms dealer.