Indian forces kill 21 Maoists in Odisha

Twenty one Maoists were gunned down in an exchange of fire with Indian police in a forest area of Malkangiri district along the border of two states Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in the wee hours today, a top police official said.

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police, Nanduri Sambasiva Rao confirmed the Naxal casualties and said the encounter broke out when the elite anti-Maoist police forces of the two states confronted the Maoists, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

According to Andhra Pradesh police, two constables of Greyhounds were injured in the encounter that occurred during a routine combing operation jointly carried out by the police of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh at Ramgurha in Malkangiri district of Odisha.

The gunbattle between the security personnel and the outlaws lasted for about an hour.

Police suspect that a top Maoist leader and son of another high ranking cadre might be among those killed in the encounter.

Police have recovered four AK-47 rifles from the scene of the encounter where a Maoist den was also found.

Rao said combing operation was still continuing as there was information that there were some more Maoists roaming in the region.