Wanted Maoist couple killed in encounter in Odisha

A Maoist couple, who together carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh on their heads, was today killed in a gun battle with security forces in a forest on the border of Angul and Deogarh districts in Odisha, police said.
Director General of Police (DGP) K B Singh told PTI over phone that the chief of Kalinganagar division of Maoists and his wife were killed during a special operation conducted by security personnel in the area following intelligence inputs.
Sushil carried a reward of Rs 20 lakh on his head, while his wife carried Rs 5 lakh reward, Singh said.

An INSAS rifle, carbine, some explosives, Maoist literatures and other materials were recovered from the site after the operation conducted by Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel and other agencies, the DGP said.
Sushil had been actively involved in Maoist activities in the region for a long time and had a large number of criminal cases against him, police said.
Combing operation and patrolling has been intensified in the area after the encounter, the police added.