Boudh: Odisha Police’s elite Special Operation Group (SOG) busted Tuesday a Maoist camp following an exchange of fire with the left-wing extremists in this district. The shootout took place near Matakupa reserve forest close to the BoudhKandhamal border when the SOG jawans were undertaking a search operation at Sagada, a senior police officer engaged in anti-Maoist operations informed.
The official said the ultras, about 25 to 30 in number belonging to the KKBN (Kalahandi-Kandhamal-BoudhNayagarh) division of the outlawed CPI(Maoist) fled from the spot leaving behind their articles and one sophisticated weapon. Even some land mines were seized from the Maoist hideout, the official said, and added that some Maoists sustained injuries during the shootout. The officer said that the exchange of fire lasted more than 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, combing operations have been intensified with the deployment of more SOG jawans following the exchange of fire. Search and combing operation is continuing, he said. Sources informed that it was the Maoists who first opened fire on the security forces following which the latter retaliated. It should be stated here that SOG jawans and members of the district’s voluntary force in a joint operation had destroyed a Maoist camp January 18 inside Budhakhol forest in this district. Then also some firearms and explosives had been seized from the hideout, officials informed.
