Rayagada: Targeting security personnel involved in a combing operation, Maoists Tuesday resorted to a landmine blast near Lakhapadar village along Niyamgiri hill under Kalyansinghpur police limits in Rayagada district, SP K Shiva Subramani said during a press conference here.
Based on intelligence inputs, a special team of district police and DVF launched a combing operation Tuesday morning. In a bid to eliminate the security personnel, the ultras detonated the landmine along the route which is 700 m from Lakhapadar village. The jawans had a narrow escape as the special police team was alert. However, the guerrillas, following the blast, opened fire on the raiding party. Police retaliated after the Maoists ignored calls for surrender. The exchange of fire continued for about 45 minutes and the ultras fled the spot failing to match the jawans’ assault. There were more than 12 guerrillas in the group who sprayed around 30 rounds of bullets, the police said.
Security personnel seized a tiffin bomb and two kit bags from the spot. The bags contained a notebook, uniforms, medicines, water packets, five live bullets and an Oriya leaflet. Besides, electric wires and mangled steel sheets were also seized from the spot.
Combing operations in the area were on till Tuesday evening, sources said. It is learnt that a joint team of district police, DVF, CRPF and SOG would comb the pockets of the district where the ultras recently made their presence felt. PNN
