Odisha: 2 cops injured in gun battle with Maoists

Bhubaneswar: At least two personnel of Odisha Police’s elite Special Operation Group (SOG) were injured during an exchange of fire with Maoists in forests bordering Boudh and Kandhamal districts on Saturday, said Director General of Police (DGP) Abhay.

The injured security personnel were airlifted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. The condition of both the personnel is stable, said the DGP, who accompanied the injured police personnel in the chopper.

The gun battle broke out in Uma forest along the Boudh-Kandhamal district border early in the morning when security forces launched a combing operation in the area based on specific information, IG (Operation) Amitav Thakur said.

The DGP, who was on a tour to Malkangiri and Koraput districts to review anti-LWE (Left-wing extremist) activities, cancelled his programme and rushed to Padelpada in Boudh.

Abhay said he accompanied the injured police personnel along with a doctor in the chopper to Bhubaneswar.