A Maoist was killed during an exchange of fire between the outfit and security forces at wee hours of Saturday in Niyamgiri hills area.
Large quantity of arms and ammunition was seized from a camp in the area deserted by the Maoists. The encounter took place around 4.30 am in Niyamgiri hills near the remote Dangamati village under Kalyansinghpur police station in Rayagada district.
On a tip off that large number of armed Maoists had gathered in Niyamgiri hills area for some major operation, a team of Rayagada District Voluntary Force led by Rayagada Superintendent of Police K.Siva Subramani started a combing operation in the area.
The security personnel came across the Maoist camp during the combing operation leading to a exchange of fire in which a utra was killed.
Identity of the dead ultra has not been ascertained yet. According to the SP, the ultras had established the camp on a hillock and there were around 40 naxalites present in it, when the encounter occurred. After suffering a casualty, the remaining rebels managed to escape taking advantage of the hilly jungle terrain.
The items seized from the camp included one china-made pistol, two country made revolvers, one rifle, 181 rounds of ammunition of different firearms, seven magazines of Self Loading Rifles, one live grenade, two Improvised Explosive Devices in the form of tiffin cases, two wireless sets, one wireless scanner, 12 knives, 19 kitbags, five set of Maoist uniforms, six FM sets and large quantity Maoist literature.
As per the SP, the Maoist group at the camp was operating under the leadership of Sukhdev alias Bunty. This group had infiltrated into Niyamgiri region two years back and it is suspected that in recent months they had established their base on the hillock near Dangamati village.
These Maoists were alleged involved in terrorising Dongria tribals of Niyamgiri hills area through threats and killing of innocents.
On February 2, the group detonated a landmine targeting security forces near Lakhpadar under Kalyansinghpur police station. But due to alertness of security personnel no damage was done.
