Phulbani: While six Maoists were gunned down in Bolangir and Kandhamal districts Sunday evening, one more ultra was killed in an encounter with the police in Kandhamal district in the wee hours Monday. Among them were two women.
This takes to seven the Maoists gunned down by the SOG and DVF personnel after the launch of the latest combing operation against the Red Rebels in Kandhamal and Bolangir districts, said ADG (Operations) RP Koche.
Acting on a tip-off, SOG and DVF started a combing operation inside the Malikpada forest area near Sudrukumpa village in Khajuripada tehsil Monday . Sensing the movements of the SOG, the ultras opened fire at them. The security personnel retaliated and gunned down one of the ultras. The others in the group managed escape, the ADG said.
Security personnel recovered an AK-47 rifle from the dead ultra. His identity is yet to be known, Kandhamal SP Pratik Singh said. What is known is, he was an active member of the Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division of the Maoist group.
Four Maoists including two women had been killed in a police encounter at Golanki village in Kandhamal district Sunday. Prior to this, two cadre Maoists had been gunned down in Dudukomal forest in Bolangir district.