6 villagers killed in crossfire between security forces, Maoists in Odisha

PHULBANI (ODISHA): Six people, including two women and a child, were killed and five others injured in a crossfire during an anti-Maoist operation in Odisha’s Kandhamal

PHULBANI (ODISHA): Six people, including two women and a child, were killed and five others injured in a crossfire during an anti-Maoist operation in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, prompting the state government to order a judicial probe into the incident.

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Police said the six were caught in an exchange of fire between security personnel and Maoists while they were travelling in an auto-rickshaw at Gumutmaha village in a dense forest area near Kuttamgarh on Friday night.

Five of those caught in the crossfire died on the spot, while another person succumbed to injuries later, Kandhamal SP Pinak Mishra said.

“It is unfortunate that the civilians were caught in the crossfire. Those killed included two women and a minor boy,” he said, adding the circumstances in which the incident took place were being probed.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia for family members of the deceased.