Malkangiri: A DVF jawan was martyred while a top Maoist leader was killed in an encounter between police and Maoists in a forest in Naxal-hit Malkangiri district of Odisha. This has been reported by the police. Director-General of Police BK Sharma said that another jawan was seriously injured in the encounter which took place during a joint search operation of Special Operations Group (SOG) and District Volunteer Force (DVF).
The Maoists killed in the encounter have been identified as Rakesh Sodhi and had a reward of eight lakh rupees. The DGP said that the encounter took place in the forest area of Paknaguda in Sodhi Bonda Ghat area with a group of left-wing Naxalites. Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Shafin Ahmed of South Western Range said Sodhi was a resident of Sukma district of neighboring Chhattisgarh and was a high-risque leader of the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of The Maoists and a self-styled commander of the banned CPI (Maoist).
Ahmed said the operation was led by Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Rishikesh de Khileri. The operation was launched at Mudulipada police station area following information about the presence of Naxalites in the forest. DIG said the Naxals opened fire on the security personnel who retaliated. He said, one DVF jawan was martyred and another was seriously injured during the encounter.
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