Police, Maoists Exchange Fire In Odisha’s Malkangiri

Malkangiri: Heavy exchange of fire took place between police and the Maoists inside Kulabeda forest under Mathili police station limits in Odisha’s Malkangiri district in the early hours on Wednesday.

Malkangiri SP Rishikesh Khilari said that the Special Operation Group (SOG) and the District Voluntary Force (DVF) personnel of the Odisha Police launched a joint search operation inside the forest on Tuesday afternoon following a tip-off about a Maoist camp inside the Kulabeda forest.

During the search operation on Wednesday morning, the security personnel came across a group of Maoists and asked them to surrender. When the left-wing ultras opened fire on them, the latter retaliated. After four hours of heavy exchange of fire, the Maoists fled the area.

The security personnel later resumed the search operation and seized a gun, some live bullets and explosives and Maoist articles from a camp.

Following the incident, search operation has been intensified in the area with additional deployment of security personnel.

Maoist cadres belonging to Chhattisgarh had set up a camp in the forest and they were in touch with the locals, the SP added.