Berhampur: A commandant rank officer of Odisha’s elite Special Operation Group (SOG) was injured in an exchange of fire between security personnel and Maoists in a forest in Kandhamal district Thursday, police said. The gun battle took place at Indragarh jungle under Raikia police station area, bordering Ganjam district. The injured commandant Prem Singh Majhi’s fellow jawans initially rushed him to Indragarh hospital, before police moved him to the sub-divisional hospital at Bhanjanagar.
Due to the absence of a surgical specialist there, doctors were brought in from Berhampur and Aska before the injured jawan was transferred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital here. His condition was stated to be stable. Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Harisha BC said the SOG jawans launched a combing operation in the area after getting reliable information about the gathering of a group of around 15 Maoists in the forest. During the operation, there was an exchange of fire in which the SOG commandant suffered injuries, he said.
Sources indicated traces of blood at the site, suggesting that some Maoists may have also been injured. “Some of the Maoists might have been injured too, but it has not yet been confirmed,” the SP said. Search and combing operation was on in full swing in the area, and additional forces were deployed.
