3 CPI (Maoist) Cadres Dead Following Gun Battle With Security Forces In Kalahandi District

Kalahandi District, May 9, 2023: Three CPI (Maoist) cadre were killed during an exchange of fire with security forces in Odisha’s Kalahandi district on May 9.

Acting on intelligence input, security forces launched a combing operation in Taprang Reserve Forest under Madanpur Rampur Police Station limits of Kalahandi district early in the morning. The Maoists have been observing a week-long mass outreach programme ‘Jana Adhikar Abhijan’ from May 8, and the operation was launched in view of the campaign, police said.

The Maoists, who are believed to be part of the Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh division of the CPI (Maoist), had first opened fire on security forces, said Odisha Police.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police of Special Intelligence Wing identified as Atul Das sustained bullet injuries in his leg and he was rushed a hospital in Balangir district. After the exchange of fire ceased, security forces examined the spot in Taprang forest and came across the bodies of three Maoists lying on ground.

“We have recovered the bodies of three CPI (Maoist) cadres. Identification of the bodies has not been done. Since an AK-47 weapon has been recovered, we suspect a senior member of the Maoist party was present at the site of the encounter,” said Sunil Bansal, Odisha’s Director General of Police.

The combing operation is still underway in the forest areas along the border of the Kalahandi-Kandhamal districts.

Security forces in Odisha were on high alert following the death of 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast triggered by CPI (Maoist) cadres in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district last month. Odisha’s Kalahandi district borders Chhattisgarh.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/odisha-at-least-three-maoists-killed-in-encounter-ak-47-recovered-from-site-article-100099207

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/three-cpi-m-cadre-gunned-down-in-exchange-of-fire-with-security-forces-in-odisha/article66829949.ece