Malkangiri: At least 21 Maoists were killed on Monday morning and two other cadres injured in an exchange of fire with the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha police in between Busiput and Bejangi areas under Panasput gram panchayat in Odisha’s Malkangiri district.
According to Odisha police director general of police (DGP) K B Singh, the police have recovered 21 bodies from the encounter site.
“Till now, the police have recovered 21 bodies. Search operation is still on in the area. W we are waiting for further information on the exchange of fire,” said Mr Singh.
The DGP confirmed that Maoist leader Udaya was killed in the encounter. No concrete information is available about Maoist Ramakrishna alias RK, another top Maoist leader.
“Maoist leader Uday has been killed in the encounter. He was carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head,” the DGP said. The police was verifying Ramakrishna was present during the exchange of fire,” the DGP said.
Eight of the 21 slain rebels are female cadres.
Malkangiri superintendent of police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra informed that based on reliable intelligence inputs, top Maoist leader Ramakrishna was holding a meeting in Bejing jungle under Panasput gram panchayat, when the joint team raided the place in the early hours on Monday.
“We had information that at least 40-50 rebels were holding a meeting in Panasput area. The Greyhound Jawans of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha police carried out a joint operation carried this morning which resulted in this huge success,” said SP Mr Mohapatra.
Sources added as the security personnel advanced towards the Maoists camp, the radicals, who had thrown a strong security ring around their top leaders opened fire on the personnel. This resulted in a fierce gun-battle between both sides.
The security personnel have seized 20 firearms, including four AK 47 rifles, 10 numbers of 303 rifles, two SLR rifles and live cartridges from the spot.
According to Visakhapatnam superintendent of police ((rural) Rahul Dev Sharma one police officer has suffered injuries during the encounter.
