raput: A Maoist was killed and a few others are suspected to have been hit by bullets during an exchange of fire with the security forces at a dense forest in Rayagada district early on Saturday.
While the identity of the deceased is yet to be ascertained, police said huge cache of Maoist belongings, including arms, were recovered from the encounter site.
According intelligence inputs about functioning of a Maoist camp near Dangamati village on Niyamgiri Hills, a combing operation led by SP (Rayagada) K Siba Subramani and securitymen belonging to district voluntary force was launched on Friday night.
“Security personnel spotted the camp around 4 am and asked the rebels to surrender. But the Maoists opened fire and the encounter continued for an hour,” the SP said.
Police recovered the body of a rebel from the spot while blood trails at the crime spot pointed to bullet injuries among Maoists, he said. “There has been no injury or casualty on our side. Unable to face heavy firing from our side, the ultras fled the spot under the cover of darkness,” Subramani said.
According to the SP, the camp was organized under the leadership of Sukdev, alias Bunty, to prepare a blueprint for some major offensives in the district. For the past two years, a group of Maoists are moving in the Niyamgiri Hills under the leadership of Bunty and have executed a few offensives, including murders, to terrorize the locals, the SP said.
Securitymen recovered a China-made pistol, two country-made revolvers, one SBBL gun, two wireless sets, one wireless scanner, live ammunition along with huge quantities of Maoist belongings, including kitbags, uniforms, knives and two tiffin bombs.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Maoist-killed-in-Rayagada-encounter/articleshow/51174133.cms
