Seven paramilitaries, four naxals killed in Orissa mine encounter

Koraput (Orrisa), Apr. 13 (ANI): Seven CISF personnel and four Maoists have been killed in a gun-battle that took place when hundreds of ultras attacked an ammunition store and bauxite mine of NALCO in Orissa's Koraput district on Sunday night.

More than 100 mineworkers who were taken hostage, are reported to be safe.

Before leaving the area, the Maoists, including some women, robbed the CISF of huge quantities of sophisticated arms, ammunition and explosives.

"Seven jawans of CISF posted at the hilltop bauxite mines in Damanjodi area were killed in the gun battle that continued till early morning after the Maoists attacked it last night," Orissa's Director General of Police, M Praharaj, said.

According to sources, the number of killed CISF personnel has reached 11.

NALCO Chairman and Managing Directror C R Pradhan informed that all the employees are safe and free.

"They were set free at around six in the morning after the special operation group reached the spot," Pradhan said.

The Maoist attack was apparently aimed at unsettling the upcoming polls process.

Sunday's encounter comes almost s month-and-a-half after the congress party revealed that it would bring out a comprehensive report on the naxal menace in Orrisa.

Naxalites or the Maoists have been termed as terrrists. The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, is on the record as saying that this menace needs to be tackled head on with the help of an anti-naxal task force. (ANI)