BHUBANESWAR: After an exchange of fire, a joint team of Odisha Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) destroyed a Naxal camp on Gandhamardan hills in Bargarh district on Friday morning.
The left-wing extremists camping in the area were reportedly members of Balangir, Bargarh and Mahasamund (BBM) division of the banned CPI (Maoist). They managed to flee after the fire exchange with the security personnel. Security forces recovered one improvised explosive device (IED), eight bags, camp articles, clothes and other items from the spot.
"After we received intel about the presence of Naxals on Gandhamardan hill, an operation was launched by SOG and CRPF personnel. An exchange of fire took place on a hilly terrain near Khandijharan village within Paikmal police limits at about 8.30 am," said ADG (Operations), Dev Datta Singh.
The joint operation is continuing in the region and is being monitored by the Northern Range IG Himansu Lal and Bargarh SP Prahalad Sahai Meena, said police sources.
The anti-Naxal operation was launched under the supervision of DGP in charge Arun Kumar Sarangi and ADG (Operations) Dev Datta Singh.
In November 2022, days ahead of the by-poll to the Padampur Assembly constituency in Bargarh, two women Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire with security personnel at Gandhamardan Hills.
Sources said the BBM division is operating along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. A close vigil is being kept in all the Naxal-hit districts of the state ahead of the general elections.