SAA event in Odisha, Kakerkupa in Kandhamal District area, India on Sat 3rd February 2024

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre, identified as Dasru, a ‘divisional committee member (DCM)’ of the Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division of the CPI-Maoist, carrying a cash award of INR 500,000 on his head, was gunned down by Police during an exchange of fire at Kakerkupa area in Kandhamal District in Odisha on February 3, reports The Indian Express. A District Voluntary Force (DVF) commando, who was part of the team combing the area, also suffered bullet injuries in his hand during the fight, the Police said. During search of the spot, a body, one .303 rifle, and other materials were recovered. Dasru, who was from Chhattisgarh, was involved in many civilian killings, attacks on Security Forces (SFs), and several incidents of arson. He was wanted in more than 20 cases in the Kandhamal and Boudh districts of Odisha.