SAA event in Odisha, Gandhamardan Hills area in Bolangir District area, India on Thu 24th November 2022

Two female Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were reportedly killed in an exchange of fire with Security Forces (SFs) in Gandhamardan Hills area close to Jal Mahadev Temple under Khaprakhol Police Station limits in Bolangir District of Odisha on November 24, reports The New Indian Express. The encounter took place after Special Operation Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) personnel spotted a Maoist camp during a combing operation based on specific intelligence. As the Maoists opened fire targeting the SFs, the SOG and DVF personnel opened fire in self-defence in which the two Maoists were gunned down. Later during search of the area, bodies of two female Maoists in uniform and two INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifles were recovered, a Police release stated. The slain Maoists were identified as Gita and Rajita of Chhattisgarh, both carrying a bounty of INR 400,000, were of ‘area committee member (ACM)’ rank and belonged to ‘Bolangir-Bargarh-Mahasamund (BBM) division’ of the CPI-Maoist, Director general of Police (DGP), Sunil Bansal said, adding, that more SFs have been deployed in the region and combing operations intensified, and efforts are underway to arrest the Maoists who managed to flee. DGP, Bansal also urged the Maoist cadres to shun violence, avail the government’s surrender policy and join the mainstream.