Kandhamal: One member of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) was killed in an exchange of fire in Odisha’s Kandhmal district on Friday.
According to a press communiqué issued by Kandhamal Police, acting on an intelligence input, an operation comprising two SOG teams was launched in Budanai Reserve Forest under Baliguda police limit in Kandhmal district on Wednesday. In the course of the operation, there was an exchange of fire between the SOG jawans and Naxals at around 9.00 am on Friday. During a search of the area, police recovered the body of one male Maoist cadre (in uniform) along with a AK 47 rifle.
Preliminary enquiry revealed that deceased was a senior cadre of CPI (Maoist) belonging to Kandhmal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh Division (KKBN division) of Maoists operating in Kandhmal district. Further search of the area and operation are underway. Further details of the seized articles will be shared in due course, the release said.
Five Maoists have been neutralised in Odisha since 2014. DGP Odisha YB Khurania has congratulated Kandhmal Police, Intelligence Directorate and Operational Headquarters for the achievement.