Dreaded Maoist leader Madhav alias Golla Ramullu, who carried Rs 4 lakh reward on his head, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Malkangiri district on Friday.
On a tip-off, a joint team of the Special Operation Group (SOG) and police from Malkangiri and adjoining Koraput district during a combing operation in the forests near Chhiliba in the Machkund area raided a Maoist camp.
A fierce gun-battle ensued between the Maoists and the security personnel during which Madhav, a senior member of Andhra-Odisha Border Malkangiri Maoist Divisional Committee, was killed while about four other ultras escaped, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Akhileswar Singh said.
The police seized the body, a hand grenade and a pistol from the site, he said.
Madhav was a most wanted Maoist in Odisha and his killing is a major success for the police. He was involved in many incidents of murder including the killing of 38 security personnel in the Chitrakonda reservoir, extortion and land mine blasts.
The body was taken to Koraput, which is close to the place of occurrence and postmortem would be conducted there, the SP said.