Maoist killed in fire exchange in Odisha

Bhubaneswar : A Maoist has been killed in an exchange of fire between the Left Wing Extremists and the Security personnel in Junanibahal area near Khaprakhol block in Bolangir district.

Police identified the Maoist as Shankar, a member of the Bolangir-Bargarh-Mahasamund division of the left-wing extremists.

Police sources said acting on information about the presence of some ultras in the area a team of Bolangir Police and the District Voluntary Force (DVF) had launched a joint combing operation last night.

In the operation, a Maoist in the rank of ACM has been neutralised. Arms and ammunition and some incriminating Maoist materials have been seized from the spot.

Odisha DGP Abhay who visited Bolangir district along with IG Operation and DIG SIW today appealed to the Maoists to lay down arms and surrender before Police.

Mr Abhay said Police suspected that there were six to eight Naxals in the area during the combing operation. The Maoists first fired at the security personnel and the security personnel returned the fire.

In the exchange of fire while one died others managed to escape from the spot taking advantage of darkness.

He said combing operations are continuing in the region.

The DGP praised highly the Police team who participated in the combing operation and said steps would be taken to felicitate them.

He said there has been a decline in the Maoist activities in the state but there is still some presence in Bolangir and Baragarha.

The DGP said adequate security personnel have been deployed in these areas to counter the Maoist activities.

About Post Author