Koraput/Bhubaneswar: The number of Maoists killed in the fierce encounter with security personnel inside a forest area on Dokari Ghat under Narayanpatna Block in Odisha’s Koraput district on Sunday evening went up to four with the recovery of yet another body this morning.
As informed by IG (Operation) RP Koche, the security personnel had received an intelligence tipoff about the movement of the Maoists in Dokari ghat area. Acting on the tip-off, the Special Operation Group (SOF) and the District Voluntary Force (DVF) personnel launched a joint combing operation inside the forest area of Dokari ghat in the evening on Sunday.
“But during the operation, the Maoists suddenly opened fire at the security personnel who immediately retaliated. After an hour-long crossfire, the Red Rebels managed to escape. Later the body of the three women Maoists was found from inside the forest and 3 guns and 10 kits sized from inside a camp,” the IG said.
He said the three deceased women Maoists were the active members of the Andhra-Odisha Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist).
Following the incident, the combing operation was further intensified in the area.
On Monday, the security personnel found another body of a woman Maoist who is also a member of the Andhra-Odisha Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist).
“As the circumstantial evidence shows that there could be more casualties, the search operation is still on in the area,” the IG said.
Talking to media persons in Bhubaneswar, Director General of Police (DGP) RP Sharma said that as per the intelligence input, a senior woman cadre Aruna was leading the team in Dokari Ghat. “However, it is not yet known whether she is among the four women Maoists killed in the encounter,” he said.
