Odisha: Maoists Exploiting Women, Contraceptives Found After Gunbattle In Nabarangpur

Nabarangpur: An exchange of fire took place between security personnel and Maoists in Odisha’s Nabarangpur even as a high alert has been sounded in the districts bordering Chhattisgarh following a naxal attack in the neighbouring state.

Districts like Nabaranghpr, Malkangiri and Koraput in Odisha were put on high alert on Wednesday after eleven persons including ten policemen were killed in Maoist attack in Dantewada area of Chhattisgarh.

Two teams of Special Operation Group (SOG) launched an operation against the Maoists near Chhattisgarh border when an exchange of fire with the naxals erupted, according to Nabarangpur Superintendent of Police S Sushree.

Around 25 armed Maoists were present at the site and the gunbattle continued for over 30 minutes before the ultras fled the scene and disappeared into forest.

Following the encounter, a search operation was carried out and huge quantities of Maoist articles including Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along with contraceptive items were seized from the Maoist camp.

Recovery of a huge quantity of contraceptive items from the camp showed that the Maoists were sexually exploiting women, the SP said.

In the wake of the naxal attack in Chhattisgarh, Odisha Police has decided to intensify combing operations in Maoist-affected districts of the state.