Rayagada: A jawan of District Voluntary Force (DVF) was killed in a landmine blast in Niyamgiri foothills under Muniguda police limits in Odisha’s Rayagada district in the late evening hours on Monday.
The deceased has been identified as Sanjay Majhi of Ambadola in Rayagada district.
Sources said that DVF jawans had begun combing operation along Niyamgiri foothills in the evening following a tip-off about presence of Maoists in the area.
During the combing operation inside the forest near Sakata village, the Maoists, hiding nearby, triggered a series of landmine blast in which Majhi was grievously injured.
He was rushed to the district headquarters hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Talking to mediapersons on Tuesday, Rayagada SP Rahul PR said the body of Majhi kept at the district headquarters hospital would be brought to the district police headquarters, where he would be given a guard of honour.
It would later be taken to his native place at Ambadola for cremation.
The SP further informed that following the incident, CRPF and the Special Operation Group (SOG) jawans have intensified combing operations in the area to track down the ultras.
