Two women cadres of the CPI(Maoist) died in a gunfightꦛ with security personnel in Odisha's Kandhama♏l district on Tuesday, a top police officer said.
Firearms, includiꦛng an INSAS rifle with 11 rounds of ammunition and one IED, were found lying next to their bodies in Matakupa Reserve Forest, Director General of P🐻olice S K Bansal said.
Acting on intelligence inputs on the movement of Maoist cadres in the forest, personnel of Odisha's special operation group (SOG) embarked on a search operation 𒊎in the woods.
"A gun battle subsequently ensued between the Maoists and the security personnel inside the for♍est, leading to the deathꦿ of two women cadres who were dressed in the banned outfit's uniform. Their bodies have been recovered and the process of identification is underway,” the DGP said.
Search operation has b⛎een iღntensified with the deployment of additional teams of security personnel in the area, Bansal stated. The DGP, in a statement, appealed to the Maoists to shun violence and join the mainstream.
“The state government has a very beneficial surrender and rehabilitation poliꦑcy, and all Maoists should avail thiꦗs," he added. Last month, at least four Maoist cadres were killed in two operations in Bolangir and Koraput districts.
(With PTI Inputs)
