Five Maoists including a woman were killed in cross firing, during an encounter with the Police, at Kalimela in the forest area in Malkangiri district, early this morning.
Additional Director General (ADG), Operation, RP Koche said acting on a tip-off about the presence of armed Maoists, including some of the top cadres in Paplur area, a joint team of Odisha Police and the Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel began a combing operation on Saturday night.
The gun battle took place near Paplur area under the jurisdiction of the Kalimela police station when Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel were conducting a combing operation, Director General of Police (DGP), R P Sharma said.
Five Maoists were killed in the encounter and the casualty could be more as search operation in the area was still in progress.
No security personnel was harmed in the operation.
Still, efforts are being put on to track other rebels who ran away from the area during the gun battle.
It is suspected that Maoist leader 'Randev', who was present at the spot, escaped from the area, they said.
(WITH PTI INPUTS)
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