Odisha DGP Visits AIIMS Bhubaneswar To Meet DSP Injured In Kalahandi Gunbattle; Bullet Removed

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Director General of Police (DG) Sunil Bansal on Wednesday visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar and met the DSP who sustained bullet injuries during a gunbattle with Maoists in Kalahandi district.

While three Maoists were gunned down in the exchange of fire in Taparanga reserve forest under M Rampur area of Kalahandi on Tuesday, DSP Atul Krushna Das sustained bullet injuries during the anti-naxal operation.

The injured DSP, who was airlifted to the state capital on Tuesday, underwent surgery at AIIMS Bhubaneswar and a bullet that had lodged in the heel region was successfully removed by the doctors, sources said.

While the police official was hit by two bullets, one had got lodged in his heel area and it has been removed. His condition is now stable, doctors said.

Describing the condition of the DSP as stable, the DGP said the injured officer is now recovering.

In the aftermath of the exchange of fire, combing operation has been intensified in the area and security forces are in a state of high alert, he said. Search operation in the entire area is underway.

While one AK-47 assault rifle had been recovered from the site after the encounter on Tuesday, two more weapons have been found today. The identities of the deceased Maoists are yet to be ascertained, the DGP said, adding that efforts are on to establish their identify and police officials of neighbouring states are being contacted for the purpose.