A Maoist was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces during a joint operation by the security personnel of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in cut off area of Balimela reservoir and its adjoining area in Visakhapatnam rural police district of Andhra.
Speaking to The Hindu , Inspector General of Police (IGP), south-west range of Odisha, Yashwant Jethwa said this exchange of fire took place at around 8 a.m. at a location around one km away from border of Malkangiri district of Odisha inside Andhra Pradesh. Body of one slain Maoist, two .303 rifles, four grenades and ten Maoist kitbags were seized from the spot.
Personnel of Border Security Force (BSF), Special Operation Group (SOG), Malkangiri district police from Odisha, Greyhound commandos and police personnel of Visakhapatnam rural took part in this joint operation. According to Mr Jethwa, this operation was still continuing till 1.30 p.m. to track down the Maoists who escaped from the spot of encounter.
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Cut off area of Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district bordering Andhra Pradesh and jungle area of Andhra adjoining it are major stronghold of Maoists.
Earlier this month it had come to fore that around 60 tribal families of Andrapalli and Panasput villages of this cut off area had fled their homes due to threats and torture of Maoists. Security forces are also trying hard to increase their area dominance in this remote cut off area to facilitate construction of much awaited Gurupriya bridge that would provide proper road communication to 151 villages of cut off area of Balimela reservoir. This project stalled by violent opposition of Maoists for more than a decade has been taken up again.