The reported exchange of fire between Maoists and security forces and the suspected gunning down of five Maoists belonging to the Andhra Odisha Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) at Bejingi forest in Malkangiri district of Odisha on Monday is turning out to be a mysterious affair.
Even a day after the exchange of fire, the police were neither able to confirm the actual number of casualties nor recover any of the bodies to substantiate their claim. .
According to SP, Visakhapatnam, Koya Praveen a Greyhounds squad was able to recover only five kit bags, one grenade and a bundle of 200 newspapers from one of the camp sites.
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It was a joint operation of the Greyhounds and the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Odisha. A senior officer from the Visakhapatnam Police said that the claim of gunning down the Maoists was made by the SOG.
According to police sources, over 200 members of AOBSZC were camping in the dense forest at Malkangiri since November last week to December 22, for the annual plenary.
The police reportedly had information that CPI Maoist central committee member and in-charge of AOBSZC, Ramakrishna alias RK was also present at the camp.
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