At least three Maoists, including an area commander, were killed today in a fierce encounter with security forces in Orissa’s Sundargarh district, officials said.
The exchange of fire took place during a joint combing operation by CRPF jawans and state police in dense Saranda forest under Bisra police station limit, bordering Jharkhand, CRPF sources said.
The security personnel retaliated after the red rebels hiding in the forest opened fire on them at Akhayatila Nala, about 30 km from here, they said.
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Bodies of three Maoists were recovered after the gunbattle, they said, adding one of the deceased was identified as Mohd Musleem, area commander of Maoists in Digha area in Jharkhand.
A rifle, a pistol, large quantity of cartridges and volumes of Maoist literature including leaflets and posters were seized from the site.
A massive combing operation has been launched in the forest, they said.
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