In a major success for the Odisha Police in its ongoing anti-Maoist operations, two dreaded Maoists were killed today in an encounter near the Puranjiab forest under Baliguda police limits of Kandhamal district.
According to preliminary investigations, the deceased Maoists have been identified as Mangu, an Area Committee Member (ACM) cadre, and Chandan, a party member, both reportedly active operatives of the outlawed Maoist outfit in the Kandhamal region.
Based on specific intelligence inputs about Maoist presence in the area, a joint team of the Kandhamal District Voluntary Force (DVF), acting under the directive of SP Harisha B.C., launched a combing operation in the forested terrain. Around noon, the team encountered armed Maoists, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. Both Mangu and Chandan were neutralised during the encounter.
Security personnel recovered a rifle, a revolver, live ammunition, a walkie-talkie set, batteries, and other Maoist-related materials from the site. The DVF team is continuing intensive combing operations to trace remaining insurgents in the area.
Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania congratulated Kandhamal SP Harisha B.C. and the DVF team for the successful operation and reaffirmed the police force’s resolve to root out extremism from the region.
