At least five Maoist cadres were killed and a few others were injured during a gunfight with the security personnel at Raighati under Tamka police station in the mineral-rich Jajpur district, nearly 150 km from here, late on Saturday night.
The slain rebels include three women and two adults. Two of the encounter victims were said to area commander of Kalinga Nagar division.
According to the police, the security personnel from the elite Special Operation Group (SOG) and state armed police forces jointly raided a Naxal camp in the Raighati forests. The rebels, who were reportedly holding a meeting, immediately retaliated by opening fire on the security forces.
“In the encounter, five rebels were killed on the spot. A few others who are believed to have received bullet injuries escaped to the deep forests. Search operation is on to find them out,” Jajpur superintendent of police D.S. Kutte said.
At least 12 guns, including one INSAS rifle, one SLR rifle, five pistols and five country-made revolvers, have been seized from the killed rebels.
“The police has cordoned off the entire Tamka region. Combing has been intensified,” the SP said.
The slain victims, the police claimed, were planning to visit Kalinga Nagar to attend the fifth anniversary of the Martyrs’ Day being observed by the local tribals under the banner of Bisthapan Birodhi Jana Manch (BBJM). However, the BBJM leader Rabindra Jarika denied the police version and said the latter was deliberately trying link the anti-displacement mov-ement with the Maoists.
The tribals have been observing January 2 as Martyrs Day every year.