At least three Maoists have been killed in an encounter with police personnel in Kalahandi district on Tuesday. As per initial reports, a fierce encounter broke out between police personnel and the ultras inside Taperenga-Ludengad forest under M. Rampur police limits.
The exchange of fire occurred in the wee hours during a combing operation. Sources said that one Deputy Superintendent Of Police has also sustained critical injuries in the encounter. The DSP has been admitted to Bhima Bhoi hospital in Bolangir.
The combing operation was launched in the region in view of the week-long Maoist campaign as part of their strategy to regroup in the region.
The anti-Maoist operation assumes significance in the backdrop of the recent naxal attack in Chhattisgarh in which 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel and a civilian driver were killed on April 26.
Following the Chhattisgarh naxal attack, senior Odisha Police officials had sounded an alert in bordering areas of the state. ADG (Operations) Amitabh Thakur said that the alert has been sounded in Bargarh and Kalahandi districts on May 2.
Earlier, three districts- Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Nuapada were put on high alert following the Chhattisgarh naxal ambush.