Maoist cadre killed in exchange of fire in Kandhamal

Bhubaneswar, Oct 25: A Maoist cadre was neutralised during an exchange of fire between security forces and Naxals in the Budanai Reserve Forest under the jurisdiction of Baliguda Police Station in Kandhamal district today. The operation, launched on October 23, involved two Special Operations Group (SOG) teams acting on intelligence inputs regarding Maoist activities in the region.

At approximately 9 AM today, the SOG personnel engaged in a gunfight with the Naxals, leading to a thorough search of the area post-conflict. During this search, the body of a male Maoist cadre, dressed in uniform, was recovered along with an AK-47 rifle. Preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased was a senior-ranking cadre affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and belonged to the Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh Division (KKBN division) operating in the Kandhmal area.

Authorities continue to conduct further searches in the region, and additional details regarding the seized items will be released in due course. Since the beginning of 2024, five Maoists have been neutralised in Odisha. DGP Odisha has extended congratulations to the Kandhmal Police, the Intelligence Directorate, and Operational Headquarters for their successful efforts in this operation.