Maoists call for bandh over encounter of 3 cadres in Odisha's Kalahandi

The outlawed CPI (Maoist) has called for a bandh in protest following the killing of three of its cadre recently in an encounter in Odisha last month. Several posters seeking support and making the bandh successful have been found at Taprenga village and main road in Kalahandi district on Sunday.

The KKBN division of the Maoists has purportedly released the posters where the red rebels have urged people to observe the day as a people's movement.

It is pertinent to mention here that three Maoists were killed in an encounter with security personnel of the State Intelligence Wing (SIW) in Taperenga of Kalahandi district on May 9, 2023. A deputy superintendent of police (DSP)-rank officer also sustained injuries in the encounter.

Also Read: Kalahandi Maoist encounter: How it happened and Intelligence Wing’s action

The anti-Maoist operation came 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.

Later, Odisha Police officials had sounded an alert in bordering areas of the state. The alert was sounded in Bargarh and Kalahandi districts as a precautionary measure.