Security personnel neutralize four Maoists in Odisha forests

Security personnel neutralize four heavily-armed Maoists in Odisha forests

By Ashok Mohanty/Kishore Mohapatra/ Narayan Behera

Phulbani/Nayagarh/Daspalla, July 5: Four heavily-armed Maoists, including a woman cadre, were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Odisha’s Kandhamal district on Sunday.

The gunfight was reported between the jawans of Special Operation Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) and the ultras at Shirla forest under Tumudibandha police limits in the district.

All the deceased ultras were the members of Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division of CPI (Maoist). Three INSAS rifles and a country-made gun and other ammunition have been recovered, senior police officials said.

“There was an exchange of fire between Maoists and SOG, DVF at Tumudibandha, Kandhamal. Security forces were fired upon and they fired back in self defence. There are four casualties on Maoists side and some of them are injured. Combing operations are on in the area. Superintendent of Police is at the spot,” tweeted Odisha Police.

Sources said the gunfight continued for nearly three hours.

A massive combing operation was carried out in the region basing on intelligence input regarding the presence of the Maoists by the joint team of DVF and SOG jawans at around 6:30 am today.

In a tweet, Odisha chief secretary Asit Tripathy congratulated the officers and Jawans of Odisha police on successful operation in Kandhamal.