7 Maoists gunned down in 48 hours in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Seven Maoists were gunned down in separate encounters in various parts of the state in the past 48 hours.

While six rebels, including two women cadres, were killed on Sunday, another Maoist was gunned down by security forces during a combing operation at Sudurukumpa in Kandhamal district on Monday morning.

The rebel was a member of the Kandhmal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division of the CPI (Maoist).

An INSAS rifle was recovered from the spot, informed ADG (Operations) RP Koche adding that the combing operation led by SP Prateek Singh is still underway.

Yesterday, two rebels were shot dead during a Maoist meeting at Kandhamal’s Golanki village and two more during a combing operation at Sudurukumpa. While one of them has been identified as Shanka Majhi, the identity of three others is yet to be ascertained. Police had seized one AK-47 and INSAS rifle, a bore rifle and two 303 rifles, 137 live bullets, five magazines and various Maoist-related materials from their possession.

In Bolangir, two members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) were killed near Dudukamal under Belpada block of the district yesterday. An AK-47 and INSAS rifle, 4 magazines, 24 rounds of live ammunition, a compass and other sharp weapons were recovered from the spot.