Bhubaneswar, May 08(UNI) Five cadres of the banned CPI(Maoist) were neutralised today in Kituba area under Padua PS of Koraput district, Director General of Police (DGP) RP Sharma said here in a press conference.
Four SOG and one DVF team, headed by SP Koraput, launched an operation based on a tip off, Mr Sharma said.
During the operation, which lasted for 30 minutes, five Maoists, including three women and two men, were gunned down at around 2.45 pm today, he said.
The DGP said all the Maoists were in olive green uniform. The full identity of the Maoists is being ascertained.However, all of them belong to Nandapur Area Committee of Koraput Division, he added.
He said four sophisticated weapons–two INSAS rifles and two Self-Loading rifles–were recovered recovered from the ultras. Camp articles like kit bags, solar panels, battery chargers were also found after a search of the area.
Combing operations are on, the DGP said.
Mr Sharma said in 2019, 23 Naxal related incidents have taken place in seven exchange of fire. As a result of the operations, 27 Maoists were arrested and seven had surrendered, while 15 fire arms were ceased and seven IDs recovered.
So far six Maoists have been killed in 2019.
The DGP said this is a grand success for Odisha police. Last year also five Maoists were killed in similar ops in Kandhamal.
