The situation continued to be tense but under control. Security has been stepped up in the area to restore order. Though the clashes involved tribals and Bengali-speaking people, it was not an ethnic clash, said a senior police official.
The operation led to the uncovering of a major Maoist gun-repair and maintenance unit along with machines, equipment, explosives, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Senior police officers and BSF jawans attended R-Day functions at different places in areas which were earlier considered as Maoist-infested.
Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of the special operation group and Malkangiri district voluntary force had launched a combing operation in the area, DGP Abhay said.
Two jawans of the security forces were injured in the gun battle. The wounded jawans are being airlifted from the inaccessible hilly terrains.
The contraband was being smuggled to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh; police said adding that the drug peddlers were arrested under NDPS act provisions.
The cannabis routed through Odisha by organized drug syndicates is much in demand in other States because its price is on the lower side.
The accused cop who had joined Odisha police as an Assistant Sub Inspector in 2009 was arrested for amassing disproportionate assets and was booked under relevant sections of prevention of corruption act.
Four guns, one SLR empty case, Maoist literature, medicines, umbrellas, uniforms and posters were seized during the operation.
She has been selected to join a private airline as a co-pilot.
