In a significant success for security forces, two Maoist cadres were killed in an exchange of fire with a Special Operations Group (SOG) team in the Gumma Forest area under Belghar police station limits in Kandhamal district on Wednesday.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of Maoists in the region, a small mobile team of SOG jawans—comprising exclusively local personnel and stationed at Kotgarh—was mobilised to the area. Upon reaching the spot, the team encountered the Maoists, leading to an intense exchange of fire. In retaliatory action, both Maoists, who were dressed in civilian clothes, were neutralised.
Recoveries from the encounter site include one revolver, one .303 rifle, and one walkie-talkie set, along with other incriminating materials.
Preliminary identification has revealed the deceased as:
– Area Committee Member (ACM) Bari @ Rakesh of Rayagada AC (Bansadhara-Ghumsar-Nagavali Division), hailing from Sukma district in Chhattisgarh.
– Party Member (PM) Amrit of Supply Dalam (Bansadhara-Ghumsar-Nagavali Division), from Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh.
The duo carried a combined reward of Rs 23.65 lakhs announced by various state governments and central agencies for their involvement in multiple Maoist activities.
No casualties were reported on the side of the security forces. Combining operations have been intensified in the surrounding areas to sanitise the region and prevent any regrouping.
This encounter comes amid ongoing efforts to curb Left-Wing Extremism in Odisha’s tribal-dominated districts, where Maoist groups from neighbouring Chhattisgarh often infiltrate.
