Three villagers were killed on Sunday evening when security personnel engaged in anti-Maoist combing operations in Karlapat forest in Kalhandi district mistakenly opened fire on them suspecting them a
Three villagers were killed on Sunday evening when security personnel engaged in anti-Maoist combing operations in Karlapat forest in Kalhandi district mistakenly opened fire on them suspecting them as rebels.
The deceased included local ward-member Jaya Shankar Naik. Jaya Shankar belonged to Panchagula village under the Nishanguda gram panchayat.
The identities of the two other deceased was yet to be established.
Two minor boys were also seriously injured in the firing. They were admitted to the local district headquarters hospital.
According to reports, the “accident” occurred when a joint combing operation team comprising special operation group and the state police mistakenly opened fire on a group of local villagers presuming that they were rebels.
There was, however, no statement or clarification from the state police on the incident till this report was filed.
Meanwhile, large amounts of explosives were seized on Sunday from Patadaraha reserve forest under, the Boden police limits of Orissa’s Nuapada district, during a combing operation by joint forces of the Central Industrial Police Force, Special Operation Group and District Voluntary Force.
The explosives include 689 detonators, 10 tiffin bombs, one gun and 6 kg of ammonium nitrate.
Besides, Maoist uniforms, sewing machine, generator and large quantities of propaganda materials were seized from the camp.
“The raiding forces have managed to bust the Maoist camp operating in the forest and the combing operation is still underway based on intelligence inputs. We have mobilised additional forces,” said Nuapada SP Pinka Mishra.
“The camp was deserted and there was no exchange of fire during the raid,” he added.
