Maoists escape after gunfight with cops

ROURKELA: A small group of Maoists, camping in Lunga Reserve Forest under Mohulpada in Bonai sub-division of Sundargarh district, exchanged fire with Rourkela police and managed to escape taking advantage of the darkness in the wee hours of Sunday.

However, the police, accompanied by personnel of Special Operation Group and District Voluntary Force, dismantled the temporary camp of the ultras and seized  solar panels, dry food grains, clothes and Maoist literature from the spot located around 100 km from Rourkela.

Rourkela SP Dr Uma Shankar Dash informed that Maoists started firing on an approaching police party and security forces retaliated. However, the Maoists managed to retreat into deep forest under the cover of darkness. Combing operation is underway to fully sanitise the areas, he said. It appeared that the temporary camp had less than 10 Maoist operatives, Dash said.

It is learnt that after facing severe setbacks in recent years along Odisha-Jharkhand border, the Maoists of adjacent Saranda forest in Jharkhand territory are using the forests of Bonai sub-division in Sundargarh both as hideouts and transit routes. However, Rourkela police continue to intensify combing operations and turn the heat on the ultras.

On May 20 last year, Rourkela police had destroyed a Maoist camp at Lunga forest after an exchange of fire. Four Light Machine Gun (LMG) magazines, 200 rounds of live LMG ammunition, eight rounds of .303 live ammunition and huge quantity of Maoist materials were seized during the operation.

Later on June 24, Rourkela police seized 20 kg explosives, one 12 bore SBML gun, two county made pistols, one revolver, 24 rounds of live bullets, 56 rounds of ball ammunition, electric wires, 68 detonators, two walkie-talkie sets and other Maoist materials kept hidden in Lunga forest.

Similarly on November 4 last year, as many as 98 live bullets, 16 ammunition charger clips, 500 grams of explosives, 20 grams of gun powder, one detonator, 30 metres of wires and other materials hidden at Jharbera forest within Chandiposh police limits in Bonai sub-division were also recovered.

Between last week of June and first week of July, Rourkela police exchanged fire with the Maoists thrice and destroyed three camps in Gurundia forest of Bonai sub-division.

Naxal camp busted in Nuapada

Nuapada: Security forces busted a Maoist camp after an exchange of fire in Katphar forest adjoining Sunabeda sanctuary near Chhattisgarh border in Boden block on Saturday morning. Informing this to mediapersons on Sunday afternoon, Nuapada SP Smith P Parmar said during a combing operation by teams of Special Operation Group, a Naxal camp was located at Katphar. On seeing the security forces, Maoists started firing. In retaliation, the SOG teams fired 79 rounds. Later, the ultras escaped from the spot.The security forces seized explosives, detonators, wire bullets, radio, uniform, haversacks, blankets and other items from the camp. Combing operations have been intensified in the area and efforts are underway to track down the rebels and neutralise them.