Security personnel gun down three Maoists in Odisha

The security personnel gunned down three Maoists in a combing operation in Odisha's Rayagada District.

According to the police, the incident took place in the hilly terrain of Rayagada district yesterday where a group of 10 to 15 ultras were hiding.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Pandit giving details of the incident said that the rebels were warned to surrender, but they open fired resulting in retaliatory fire by security personnel.

"We had conducted a survey of the area and identified the Maoists. Initially we asked the rebels to surrender, but they refused to do so. Instead they began firing at us and we fired back in retaliation. The firing continued for 30 minutes. After the firing ended, a few Maoists fled," said Pandit.

"There were about 10 to 15 Maoists there, out of which three were gunned down. There is a possibility that a few Maoists were injured and in close proximity, which is why the combing operation is on," he added.

The Maoists, who are considered to be India's greatest internal security threat, have off late intensified their operations in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and some areas of West Bengal.