Security personnel on Wednesday destroyed four Maoist camps in the Telan forest in Kalahandi district and recovered 18 rounds of live ammunitions, kit bags, Maoist literature, solar panels, uniforms, batteries and radio sets from the camps.
Though there was heavy exchange of fire between the ultras and the security forces, no casualty was reported from the security personnel and Maoist sides, informed South Western Range IG of Police Yeswant Jethwa.The Red rebels fled the camps. CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member Jampha, who hails from Warangal district in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and has a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head, managed to escape along with around 40 of his cadres, said Jethwa.
“Combing and search operations have been intensified in the area with police teams stationed at strategic locations. The Kalahandi SP and I are camping in the area,” informed the IG. “We have deployed the COBRA Battalion of the CRPF in the area after we received intelligence reports of Maoists regrouping in the Telan forest bordering the districts of Kandhamal and Rayagada,” Jethwa said.
