Maoist deputy commander killed in gunbattle

A deputy commander of a local wing of the Communist Party of India-Maoist was killed in a gunfight with security forces early on Saturday in Orissa's Keonjhar district, police said.

A deputy commander of a local wing of the Communist Party of India-Maoist was killed in a gunfight with security forces early on Saturday in Orissa's Keonjhar district, police said.

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Sunil was the second in command of the Kalinga Nagar division of the banned outfit.

A joint voluntary force of mineral rich Keonjhar and its neighbouring Jajpur district raided a Maoist camp near Pandapada village, about 280 km form Bhubaneswar. The forces retaliated when the rebels opened fire at them.

During the exchange of fire, the Maoist deputy commander was killed while other rebels fled to a nearby forest, a police officer told IANS.

A revolver, a country made gun, some detonators and other camp articles were seized from the site. No causality or injury has been reported from the police side.

Maoists are active in more than half of the state's 30 districts.