IED event in Odisha, Labanagada forest area near Mundamaska under M Rampur Police Station limits in Kalahandi District area, India on Thu 23rd June 2022

During a search operation, an exchange of fire between the cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) and Special Operation Groups (SOG) -District Voluntary Force (DVF) personnel took place in Labanagada forest area near Mundamaska under M Rampur Police Station limits in Kalahandi District of Odisha on June 23, reports The New Indian Express. Following reliable inputs about movement of Maoists, the Security Forces (SFs) launched a combing operation, and while the search was on, the Maoists started firing indiscriminately from Light Machine Gun (LMG) and other automatic weapons on the Police. The operational party retaliated and fired from Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) and AK-47. Due to heavy counter fire by Police, the Maoists retracted from their camp, Superintendent of Police (SP), Abhilash G said. After the encounter, two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one booby trap, detonators, Maoist literature, large number of umbrellas, solar plates, water jerkins, Maoist banners, torch lights, charger, bag, soap, polythene sheets, electric wire, medicines, contraceptive pills and other camp articles were recovered from the abandoned camp site. Presence of senior Maoist cadres like Nikhil, Bunty, Dasru, Mamata and other cadres in the area (totaling around 30 Maoists) is suspected, the SP further said.