Bargarh: A Maoist was killed in an encounter with a joint team of SOG jawans and Odisha police inside a forest near Bhanjagunda in Padampur area of Bargarh district on Friday.
IG Operations Amitabh Thakur identified the deceased ultra as Rabindra, a divisional committee member (DCM)-rank Maoist. He was carrying an award of Rs 5 lakh on his head.
“He was killed in an exchange of fire that lasted for around 30 minutes late last night following the operation launched by the joint forces. Around 10 to 12 armed Maoists had infiltrated to Bargarh forest from neighbouring Chhattisgarh. They belong to Bargarh-Balangir Mahasamund Division,” he said
The killing of a DCM rank rebel was a huge success for the security forces, he added.
Informing about the encounter, DGP Abhay had earlier said a cache of arms and ammunition, including an AK-47 rifle, three magazines and many live rounds, were recovered from Jhanj Reserve Forest near Bhanjagunda area.