Bhubaneswar: The Maoist ultra who was gunned down by security forces during an encounter at Padampur in the district on Thursday was a DCM (Divisional Committee Member) rank rebel who was carrying a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.
Speaking to OTV, IG (Operations) Amitabh Thakur said the extremist has been identified as Rabindra.
"He was a DCM rank cadre and carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head. During the cross fire, around 10 to 12 armed Maoists were present at the spot who had infiltrated to Bargarh forest from neighbouring Chhattisgarh," Thakur told OTV over phone.
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On a tip off, the joint forces SOG and Odisha police had launched an operation late on Thursday night, the IG said.
The exchange of fire continued for around 30 minutes during which Rabindra was killed. All the rebels belong to Bargarh-Bolangir Mahasamund Division, he informed.
The killing of a DCM rank rebel was a big success for the security forces, Thakur added.
Following the death of Rabindra, other rebels fled the spot. The security forces are still chasing them in the forest, he added.
Earlier DGP Abhay informed that security personnel had also seized a cache of arms and ammunitions including a AK-47 rifle from Jhanj Reserve Forest near Bhanjagunda area.
Along with AK-47 rifle, three AK-47 magazines, ammunitions and other explosives were also recovered from the spot.
"I once again urge all the Maoists to shun violence and return to the main stream. I appeal them to join various rehabilitation schemes of the State government," said DGP Abhay.