Bhubaneswar: An exchange of fire took place between the Maoists and the SOG jawans in Penajora forest near Shagada area under Manamunda police station in Boudh district.
Till the filing of the reports, the gun battle was continuing. As many as 60 SOG jawans in two teams were involved in the operation. Any casualties or injuries from either side remained unclear.
Meanwhile, two Maoists from Chhattisgarh have surrendered in Kandhamal district. Ranjit Naitam and Ranga Poyam were involved in various naxal violence in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. They surrendered today during the visit of Police DG Sunil Bansal.
He reviewed the anti-Maoist operation in Kandhamal district today. The meeting was held at Phulbani SP office. Director Intelligence Sanjeev Panda, ADG Debabrat Singh and DIG Uma Shankar Das were prominently present.
“Lured by the government’s Surrender and Rehabilitation policy, two naxal surrendered today. One of them was an area committee member and another was a cadre. Both hail from Chhattisgarh, but they operate in Odisha. Maoists from Chhattisgarh usually want to strengthen their presence in border areas,” DGP Sunil Bansal said.
The surrendered Maoists expressed their desire to join the mainstream. They will be compensated and rehabilitated as per the government norms, the DGP added.
