Malkangiri: A top Maoist leader carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakh over his head was gunned down in Odisha’s Malkangiri district on Tuesday.
According to the media reports, Maoist leader Rakesh Sodhi was killed during an exchange of fire with security personnel in Pakanaguda forest in Bonda ghati area in Malkangiri district, said Police DG Bijay Kumar Sharma.
Rakesh, a resident of Ghatapad village in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, was the leader of Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of Maoists.
Acting on tip-off about the presence of the rebels in the forest area, a joint team of Special Operation Group (SOG) and DVF conducted a search operation.
The Maoists seeing the security personnel opened fire.
The security personnel started firing in retaliation.
The Maoist leader was shot down by the force.
In the incident, a District Voluntary Force (DVF) jawan, identified as Jayaram Kabasi, was martyred while another sustained critical injuries in the gun battle, sources said.
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