Kandhamal/Bolangir: In a major victory for Odisha Police, six Maoists were gunned down and a huge cache of explosives seized at separate encounters in Bolangir and Kandhamal on Sunday.
While four members of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) were killed in Kandhamal , two cadres of the banned outfit were shot dead in Bolangir. In the first incident, security forces killed four Maoist cadres at Sudurukumpa in Kandhamal district. Two of them are believed to be women.
Eight guns including an AK 47 AND Insas rifle were seized during the raid. The encounter was designed following information about a Maoist meeting at the village today, informed sources. The exchange of fire between the Naxals and security personnel was still on when the reports last came in.
In the second incident, two members of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) were killed near Dudukamal under Belpada block in Bolangir district. The deceased rebels have been identified as Sanjeeb and Rakesh.
Sanjeeb, a Divisional Committee Member (DCM) carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh while Rakesh worked as an Area Committee Member (ACM) and had a bounty of Rs 4 lakh on his head. One AK-47 and Insas rifle, 4 magazines, 24 rounds of live ammunition, a compass and other sharp weapons have been recovered from the spot.
The combing was launched after specific intelligence input about the presence of Maoists cadres in Magur forest under Bender Reserve Forest near Dudukomal area. The operation is being dubbed as a major success even though some rebels managed to escape taking advantage of the darkness.
"It is a major success for Odisha police and the operation was meticulously planned. Special action plan is being prepared for similar operations in inaccessible areas," said DGP RP Sharma.
“The death of these senior cadres will be a big blow to the Maoists The success of the operation will definitely boost the confidence of security forces and people in the area, he added.
On the other hand, fresh Maoists posters surfaced at Kerapadar and Farasara area under Boden police limits in Nuapada district this morning. Signed by the Spokesperson of Mainpur-Nuapada Division of the Maoists, Jayaram, the posters urged people to join hands against atrocities by police in the area.