Nabarangpur: A Maoist carrying a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh was gunned down in an encounter in Gariaband near Nabarangpur on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border on Tuesday morning.
The deceased was identified as Nandlal alias Amlu Netam, a resident of Rikshapathra village under Shobha police station limits in Chhattisgarh. He was a deputy commander of Maoist Udanti LOS (Local Organising Squad), said Gariaband SP Tukaram Kamble.
A joint team of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) 207 battalion, the district force, and the CRPF had launched an anti-Naxal operation/area domination exercise from the Jugad police station in Gariaband district, police said.
When the security forces reached the forested patch near Karlajhar village in Jugad police station around 9:20 am on Tuesday, armed Maoists opened fire on the force.
The security personnel retaliated and the exchange lasted for about 30 minutes, said Gariaband SP.
The body of Maoist Nandlal and a .303 gun were found on the spot, he added.
Nandlal was involved in Maoist activities for the past several years and carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, the SP said.
