Odisha: two policemen die after Maoist ambush

Two policemen were killed after Maoists fired upon a police party following an ambush in Odisha’s Nuapada district, police said today.

Two policemen were killed after Maoists fired upon a police party following an ambush in Odisha’s Nuapada district, police said on Saturday.

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The ambush occurred on Friday in Sunabeda sanctuary area of the district, about 550 kms southwest of Bhubaneswar, while the police party was returning to base from a routine patrol.

The Sunabeda sanctuary is located close to the Chhattisgarh border. Maoists have allegedly created a base inside the deep forest for the past several years.

The rebels fled after the policemen returned fire. “However, a district voluntary force (DVF) personnel and a special police officer (SPO) lost their lives during the exchange of fire,” inspector general of police (operation) Soumendra Priyadarshi said.

The latest Maoist attack comes less than a week after a large number of tribals of the area held a meeting and announced to help police and wage war against left-wing extremists in the region.

Maoists are active in more than half of Odisha's 30 districts. Sunabeda is considered one of their strongholds.

(With inputs from IANS)