Security Forces Neutralise Maoists in Separate Encounters in Odisha and Chhattisgarh

 

Security forces in Odisha and Chhattisgarh achieved significant breakthroughs in anti-Maoist operations this week, neutralising two Maoists in separate encounters that underscore the ongoing efforts to curb insurgent activities in these regions.

 

In Kandhamal district, Odisha, a senior Maoist terrorist from the CPI (M) KKBN division was killed following a carefully planned operation by the Special Operation Group (SOG).

 

Acting on precise intelligence, two teams from Odisha’s elite SOG launched an anti-Maoist drive in the Budanai reserve forest under Baliguda police station on October 23.

 

The operation led to an exchange of fire between the Maoists and SOG jawans around 9 AM. Upon searching the area after the encounter, security personnel discovered the body of a male Maoist, dressed in uniform, along with an AK-47 rifle.

 

According to initial investigations, the deceased was a high-ranking member of the Maoist KKBN division operating in the Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh region.

 

Meanwhile, in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, a similar encounter unfolded in the Burklenka area, south Bastar, where security forces gunned down a suspected Maoist, as confirmed by Sukma superintendent of police, Kiran Chavan.

 

The Maoist’s body, along with several weapons, was recovered from the site of the skirmish, adding to the ongoing efforts to dismantle Maoist strongholds in the region.

 

These successful operations mark a continuation of the authorities’ resolve in combating Maoist activities. So far in 2024, Odisha alone has seen the neutralisation of five Maoists, indicating increased security pressure in insurgent-hit areas.