BHUBANESWAR: A woman cadre was killed during a gun battle between the security forces and the Maoists in a forest in Kalahandi district on Thursday.
The combing team comprising Special Operation Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) also recovered arms from the spot.
Addressing mediapersons, Kalahandi SP Brijesh Rai said on receiving intelligence information about movement of Maoists in Kanamanjur Reserve Forest, an intense combing operation was launched. The encounter, that took place near Supel on the bank of river Sagada between 3.30 pm and 4 pm, lasted for about 25 minutes. The Maoists fled into the forest leaving behind the body of the woman cadre, who is yet to be identified, the SP added.
It is suspected that the Maoists belong to Bansadhara Ghumsar Nagavali division, which is led by Divisional Commander Nikhil.
The items seized by the combing team include 13 haversacks, .303 rifle with magazine and ammunition, two detonators with flexible wire, transistor, knife, solar plate, battery charger, Maoist literature and household articles, the SP added.
Nine SOG and DVF personnel received minor bullet injuries, the SP said.
Earlier, the security personnel and Maoists were engaged in an encounter in Gundia Reserve Forest leading to recovery of Maoist literature and several other items from the camps. They were engaged in combing Manaska, Panchkul, Kankaruan and Baghnakhi villages in the reserve forest under Bhawanipatna Sadar blocks from February 6.
Odisha State Committee Secretary of the rebel outfit Balakrishna alias Modem alias Manoj, who was leading nearly 25 cadres and operating a camp in the area, managed to escape. He carries a reward of `25 lakh on his head.