In a major success for the State police in their anti-Maoist operations, five Red rebels, including two woman cadres, were gunned down in a fierce exchange of fire between security personnel and ultras in a forest near in Papluru in the Chitrakonda area of the district on Monday, informed ADG Operation RP Koche.
However, a leader of Kalimela Dalam Division of CPI(Maoist), Ranadeb, managed to give a slip to police.
Reports said two teams of the Special Operation Group (SOG) were conducting a combing operation in the Kalimela area of the district since Sunday when the security personnel spotted the presence of around 15 ultras in the forest.
After spotting the security personnel, the Maoists opened fire at them. The SOG jawans fired back in self- defence killing five red rebels, reports added. “Five cadres of Ranadeb’s group who held the ranks of Area Committee Member (ACM) were killed in the gunfight. The security personnel have also seized four weapons including two INSAS rifles, one SLR, one 303 rifle and a hand grenade from the spot,” Koche added.
Meanwhile, the exchange of fire between security personnel and Maoists is still on, sources said. DGP Dr Rajendra Prasad Sharma termed the encounter by the SOG jawans as one of the best operations in the State.
“Five cadres were reportedly killed in the gun fight and a huge cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered from the spot. However, the identity of the deceased Maoists will be known after a detailed investigation,” the DGP said.
Considering the fact that Malkangiri district in general and the Kalimela PS area in particular is considered to be one of the strongholds of CPI (Maoist), this operation is considered to be a spectacular achievement by the district and operations wing of the State police, which will go a long way in containing the CPI(Maoist) activities in Kalimela PS area of the district.