Phulbani (Odisha): A Maoist was killed on Monday in a fresh encounter with security forces in Sudukumpa reserve forest of Odisha's Kandhamal district, taking the toll of the number of maoists killed in separate operations in the state since Sunday to seven.
Four Maoists, including two women, were killed on Sunday evening in Kandhamal's Golanki village and two were shot dead early in the day at Dudkamal village of Balangir district, police said.
A fresh gun battle broke out on Monday when a joint team of Special Operation Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) was carrying out a combing operation in the Sudukumpa forest, Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Pratik Singh said.
The CPI(Maoist) member, who was gunned down in the encounter, was active in Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division of the state, he told reporters.
Giving details of Sunday's encounter in the area, the SP also said one of the Maoists killed in Kandhamal district was identified as Sankar Majhi (37), who carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.
The identity of four others, including the one who was killed on Sunday, was yet to be ascertained, he said.
Altogether, 11 rifles, including an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and Maoist literatures were seized from the site since Sunday, he added.
