Two Maoists killed in encounter in Orissa

Dhenkanal, June 10 (UNI) In a fierce encounter, police today demolished a Maoists camp and killed two CPI(ML) Janashakti activists inside the Kaliadhala forest under Kamakhyanagar division.

Deputy Director General of Police(North-Central) Arun Kumar Sharanghi told UNI over the phone that the Maoists attacked a police party led by Dhenkanal Superintendent of Police S K Kaushal during an intensive combing operation in Lanjigada forest.

The police force retaliated and in the process destroyed the camp located inside the Kaliadhala forest. The encounter continued for nearly 35 minutes in which three Maoists were reportedly hit by bullets.

Mr Sharanghi said the police had recovered one SLR, one revolver, 75 hand grenades, five detonators and land mines from the camp.

After the encounter the ultras fled from the scene as they were in a advantageous position at the hilltop.

But later, when the police made further combing operation in the area,the villagers confirmed that they have seen bodies of a male and a female Maoist killed in the encounter.

However, the police have not yet recovered the bodies and suspected the Maoists have taken the bodies along with them while fleeing from the scene after the encounter.

Mr Sharanghi who is also the chief of the joint operation in the north central range, said soon after the incident more reinforcement were mobilised from Keonjhar and Jajpur and a vigorous combing operation was launched from three sides to flush out the Maoists hiding inside the forest.

He said the CPI(ML) Janashakti group, a detached group of the CPI(ML), has been very active in the districts of Jajpur,Keonjhar and Dhenkanal.

This was said to be first major encounter with the Maoists in Dhenkanal district after the naxalites killed three foresters during the last six months in the district.

UNI