BERHAMPUR: A Special Operation Group (SOG) jawan was killed and six others injured when Left Wing Extremists (LWEs) attacked a convoy of the security forces near Khamankhol under Baliguda police station of Kandhamal district late on Sunday.
The SOG team was returning from an operation when their convoy came under attack. The injured have been shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital at Berhampur.
The deceased was identified as Lakshmikant Jani, a native of Kalahandi. Reinforcements have been sent and search operations are being conducted. Combing has been intensified.
According to IG, Southern Range, Amitabh Thakur, the Maoists attacked the last vehicle of the security forces when they were returning after an operation. The SOG jawans fought back valiantly.
The exchange of fire lasted for around an hour and more than three hundred rounds were fired during which under barrel grenade launchers were also used by the security forces. The jawans in the last vehicle were targeted and came under heavy fire in which Ja ni was killed while six others along with the driver sustained injuries.
The injured were taken to Baliguda Hospital before being shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital. Thakur said there could be casualties on the side of Maoists as well and search is underway.