4 Maoist hideouts busted in Odisha
Security personnel have busted four Maoist hideouts and seized huge cache of live ammunition and other articles were seized following an exchange of fire between the ultras and security forces in Gandhamardhan Reserve forest under Paikmal police station limits in Odisha’s Bargarh district, police said on Monday.
“About 10 to 15 CPI (Maoists) managed to escape after the shootout that took place at around 7.30 AM on Saturday and lasted for about half-anhour,” a press note issued by the state police headquarters, Cuttack, said.
Upon reliable Intelligence input regarding camping of CPI (Maoists) and planning for violent anti-state activities in Gandhamardhan range forest area, Special Operation Group (SOG) teams of BargarhBolangir along with CRPF platoons started joint Anti-Naxal operation in the area. At around 7.30 AM, the SOG team and the left wing extremists noticed each other’s movement in the area. The Maoists started indiscriminate firing upon the police team, the statement said.
It added, “Though the SOG team appealed to the ultras to stop firing and surrender, they shouted ‘Lal Salam Jindabad.’ Finding no alternative, SOG team resorted to controlled firing in selfdefence. The exchange of fire continued for 30 minutes. The Maoist group could manage to escape taking advantage of dense forest and heavy rainfall.”
During the search operation, the SOG team found four Maoist camps in a row and recovered live ammunition.