Encounter In Odisha’s Kalahandi: Killed Maoist Of Chhattisgarh Carried Rs 4 Lakh Reward

Bhubaneswar: One of the three Maoists, who was killed in encounter in Odisha’s Kalahandi district on Tuesday, has been identified as a wanted cadre of Chhattisgarh carrying a reward of Rs 4 lakh on his head.

The slain Maoist was 34-year-old Lalit, area committee member of Gampur in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. He was an active and hardcore member of Rahul Area Committee of KKBN (Kalahandi Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh) division of Odisha State Committee, a press release of Odisha Police stated.

Since his arrival from Chhattisgarh in Odisha in 2015, Lalit was active in Rahul Area Committee. In 2021, he became LOS Commander and in-charge of Action Committee. He was involved in several heinous offences like
setting fire the construction camps at Laharhi under M Rampur police station in Kalahandi district and Jhirpani under Belghar police station of Kandhaml district in 2020.

Lalit had attacked a polling party near Barahala village under Gochhapada police limits of Kandhamal district and a civilian was killed in 2019. He was involved killing of one Hemanta Patra of Gochhaguda and Bhawani Patra of Bhadarangi in 2021. He also killed one Nila Majhi of Kanasalu under Baliguda police station of Kandhamal
district in 2022.

Efforts are on to establish the identity of the two other Maoists killed in the encounter near Taprang village under M Rampur police station. A DSP was also injured in cross-firing as a bullet hit his right foot.