2 suspected Maoists killed in gunfight with security forces in Odisha: Police

Bodies of two Maoist cadres were recovered by the elite anti-Naxal force special operations group after an exchange of fire with a group of Maoists in Parhel.

Updated on: Apr 25, 2024, 12:44:15 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Two suspected Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Odisha’s Boudh district on Thursday morning, police said.

Simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held in Odisha on May 13, 20, 25 and June 1. (Representative file photo)

Director of intelligence, Soumendra Priyadarshi said the bodies of two Maoist cadres were recovered by the elite anti naxal force special operations group after an exchange of fire with a group of Maoists in Parhel reserve forest area of Boudh district.

“We are trying to identify them with the help of surrendered rebels. One more Maoist is also injured during the encounter. Explosives and arms such as under barrel grenade launcher have been seized from the spot,” said Priyadarshi.

Also Read:4 suspected Maoists killed in gunfight with security forces in Chhattisgarh

Simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held in Odisha on May 13, 20, 25 and June 1.

Boudh will go to the polls on May 20.

At least seven similar incidents have occurred in Boudh in the last four months.

According to the latest available data, three of Odisha’s districts – Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Malkangiri, are among the 25 ‘Most Affected Districts’ from eight states across the country.

Odisha has recorded 154 incidences of Maoist violence between 2019 and 2023. As many as 71 exchanges of fires have taken place resulting in deaths of 42 Maoists and arrest of 145 more.

According to the state police, 63 Maoists have surrendered their arms while seven security force personnel lost their lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

Home/Cities/Others/2 Suspected Maoists Killed In Gunfight With Security Forces In Odisha: Police