2 Maoists killed in gunfight with security forces in Odisha

In a major breakthrough for the security forces, as many as two Maoists were killed following an exchange of fire with security personnel in the Budaguda Reserve Forest area of Kandhamal district on Monday.

Acting on intelligence inputs, security forces had launched a combing operation in the area under the direction of Kandhamal SP, Harish Bishi. The operation has been underway in the area for the past two days.

The encounter took place during this ongoing operation, when the forces came face-to-face with the Maoists. The search and combing operations have been further intensified in the area. An effort is on to surround the area so that the Naxals may not escape to the border areas.

The identities of the deceased Maoists are yet to be identified. As per police sources, after the completion of the operation, it could be ascertained how many Maoists were hiding in the area.

Must Read: Three top Maoist operatives killed in encounter in Odisha’s Malkangiri

After a lull of a few months, the red ultras have become active in the area again. Security forces suspect that more Maoists could be hiding in the dense forest, and combing operations are still underway. Officials have yet to release full details regarding the seized arms.

Similar incident

Earlier last month, as many as three top Maoist operatives were gunned down in an intense encounter in the Maradpalli forest area near the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border in Malkangiri district.

The exchange of fire took place between the Maoists and a joint team of security personnel, during which three senior Maoist leaders were neutralised.