The special operations group and district voluntary forces registered success in anti- Maoist operations in Bolangir and Kandhamal districts over the last 48 hours gunning down seven left-wing extremists in encounters and earning appreciation from Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Mr. Singh spoke to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday and lauded the ongoing combing operations against the ultras in the state, said a release issued by the CMO here. He also discussed future action plan to curb Maoist activity in the state.

Five Maoists, including two woman cadre, were killed during a combing operation at Sudukumpa forest in Kandhamal’s Golanki village informed Mr R P Koche, in charge of anti Maoist operations in the state.

Two other ultras were gunned down in an encounter in Dudkamal village of Bolangir district when the police party raided the hideout in which 10 to 12 Maoists had taken refuge, he added.

The success is largely due to the intelligence inputs that have been effective. Over the last two days the police has recovered two AK 47 rifles, three INSAS rifles, several SLRs and 303 guns.

Director General of Police , Dr R.P. Sharma said the last two days have been extremely successful for the police forces. He informed that the crack down on Maoists will continue and action plan has been prepared for each LWE infested areas including its epi centre at Malkangiri district.

Most of the Maoists belong to either Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh or Jharkhand , there are very few from within Odisha, noted police sources while pointing out that the two area commanders and divisional commander killed in the encounters belonged to Chhattisgarh.

The DGP said, he was in touch with his counterparts in Bihar, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

The DGP said of the seven Maoists killed over the last two days, two were carrying rewards on their head. This morning the combing operation resulting encounter at Sudrukumpa reserve forest in Kandhamal district led to the death of a ultra belonging to the Badal Group of KKBN Division.

On a tip off, that 12/15 maoists were at the camp,the joint combing squard arrived at the camp in the forest and Maoists opened fire first. On the spot four cadres were killed on Sunday in Kandhamal district. Two women cadre were amongst those killed.