Bhubaneswar/Kandhamal- In a significant blow to left-wing extremism in Odisha, two armed Maoists were neutralized during an intense exchange of fire with security forces in a forested area of Kandhamal district on Monday.
The gunbattle broke out around noon after the District Voluntary Force (DVF), acting on precise intelligence, launched a targeted operation deep inside the dense forest zone. The slain Maoists have been identified as Manku, an Area Committee Member (ACM) of the banned CPI (Maoist), and Chandan, an active cadre associated with the same group.
According to police officials, the DVF team came under fire during the operation, leading to a fierce encounter. Both Manku and Chandan were killed in the retaliatory action. Sources suggest that additional Maoist members may have escaped into the jungle amid the firefight.
A cache of arms and equipment, including a rifle, a revolver, live ammunition, walkie-talkie sets, batteries, and other materials linked to Maoist activities, was seized from the encounter site.
Security forces have since intensified combing operations in the surrounding region to locate any remaining militants and ensure the area is cleared of insurgent threats. The operation marks a tactical success for Odisha police in their ongoing efforts to curb Maoist influence in the region.
