Gunfight between security forces-Naxals-Three Maoists killed

Three Maoists, including two women cadre, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Odisha’s Kandhamal district.

Ganesh Uike (69), a senior central committee member of the CPI (Maoist) and head of its Odisha operations, was killed by Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) teams in the Rampa forest area on the border of Kandhamal and Ganjam districts. Three other Maoists including two women activists were killed in this encounter.

Around 9 am, the security forces attacked a group of armed Maoists in the Rambha forest area and the insurgents opened fire. This led to a heavy exchange of fire. By afternoon, security forces recovered the bodies of four Maoists, including Ganesh Uike, from the spot.

Security personnel recovered high-capacity weapons including two INSAS rifles and a .303 rifle from the spot. Pakka Hanumanthu, Rajesh Tiwari and Rupa Uike were veteran rebels from Nalgonda, Telangana.

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