A jawan was martyred while a top Maoist leader was gunned down in a gun battle between security forces and Maoists in the Bonda Ghati area of Malkangiri district on Wednesday.
South Western Range DIG Shafeen Ahmed said a District Voluntary Force (DVF) jawan, Jayram Kabasi, was killed while another, Ramsingh Durua, was injured in the gunfight. The injured jawan was airlifted to hospital in Vishakhapatnam.
To intensify the combing operations, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have also been mobilsed in the area. Search operations are underway to chase the Red rebels, who fled from the encounter site.
Top Maoist leader Rakesh Sodhi who carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head was gunned down by security personnel. Rakesh, a native of Ghattapad village in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh was a military platoon leader of the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of Maoists.
Rakesh was involved in series of violence and attack incidents on police including Manthriam Attack on July 8, 2008 during which 17 Special Operations Group (SOG) Jawans and Reserve Inspector SK Mishra attained martyrdom, the 2012 Janiguda-landline attack on BSF, in which four BSF personnel including Commandant attained martyrdom.
He had also allegedly carried out an attack on Khairput market and murdered a Sub-Inspector of Police in 2012. Besides, Rakesh was also an accused in attack on CRPF unit in MV 79 Haat in 2007.
“After receiving specific inputs about movement of around 10 Maoists near Dabuguda who had come from Chhattisgarh to create mayhem in the Swabhiman Anchal, the district police led by the SP Rishikesh D Khilari, along with personnel of SOG and DVF launched a combing operation last night to trace the Maoists, informed DIG Ahmed.
“In the wee hours today during the search operations, we found a camp of the Maoists in Pakanaguda jungle around five to six km away in the dense hilly forests in cut-off Bonda Ghati area. After spotting the security personnel, the rebels fired indiscriminately and we had to retaliate in self-defence,” said the DIG.
Two rifles, some ammunition and other materials were recovered from the site, police said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the death of the jawan.
“Deeply anguished by the death of a District Voluntary Force (DVF) jawan, Jayaram Kabasi in Maoist attack in Malkangiri. Convey my heartfelt condolences for the martyred jawan and wish the bereaved family has courage to overcome the irreparable loss,” the CM Tweeted.