MALKANGIRI:Security forces gunned down two Maoist cadres, one of them a woman, during a combing operation on Saturday night and seized a cache of arms and ammunition from Singaram forest in Swabhiman Anchal.
The two cadres were identified as Mala and Somidi. The male cadre Mala was an area committee member (ACM) of the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC). Both the cadres are natives of Chhattisgarh.
A joint team of Special Operation Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF) and Border Security Force (BSF) was carrying out the operation when the Maoists fired indiscriminately drawing retaliatory fire. The gun battle continued for an hour. On Sunday morning, the security forces found bodies of the Left wing extremists along with arms and ammunition from the site.
An INSAS (folded butt) and SLR rifles were recovered from the spot which revealed that the slain Maoists were top cadres, BSF DIG (Intelligence) Sukumar Sarangi said.
The arms and ammunition seized by the security forces from the encounter site include three INSAS magazines, one SLR magazine, 21 rounds of 5.56 mm live bullets, nine rounds of 7.62 mm live bullets, two magazine pouches, walky talky with spare battery and charger, camera flash, 15 detonators, one anti-venom injection, three kit bags, medicines and Maoist literature.
Due to the increased presence of security forces in Swabhiman Anchal, the erstwhile cut-off area on Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, the BSF DIG said Maoists are fast losing ground and retreating. The BSF is determined to take the war against the rebels to a logical end to restore peace and ensure all-round development in the region.