Bhubaneswar: Two members of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) were gunned down in an encounter with the District Voluntary Force (DVF) personnel under the Pottangi police limits of Koraput district on Tuesday.
The Maoists have been identified as EP Swami alias Narender and Sanjeev, who was the squad commander of AOBSZC, police said. Both were carrying a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh each declared by the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh governments.
The security personnel have also seized two carbines, two magazines of fire arms and a grenade from the encounter spot, they added.
The encounter occurred during an anti-Maoist operation by the DVF of Koraput police, which had been initiated following intelligence reports that a group of hardcore Maoists were camping in the jungle under Pottangi police station bordering Andhra Pradesh.
Police said, when the ultras opened fire, it was retaliated by the security personnel, leading to the death of the two. Some ultras are suspected to have escaped.
Search operation has been intensified in the area with sealing of inter-State border to nab the escaped persons.