Bhubaneswar, Feb 17( Odisha.in ) In an encounter between the Naxals and police three policemen and 20 Naxals have died .
Though casualty from Naxal sides has not been confirmed, Orissa’s Home Secretary Tarunkanti Mishra told media persons on Sunday that as many as 20 Naxals have died in encounter. He said that the number of deaths of Naxals are not yet confirmed .
Mishra said that after the massacare and loot in Nayagarh, the Naxals are suspected to be hiding in the Gashma forests located on the borders of Nayagarh, Ganjam and Kondhmal districts along with the looted arms and ammunitions. Their number has been estimated to be around 300.
Two army helicopters has been put in service to locate the movement of the Naxals inside the forests.The Maoists are trapped inside the jungle and the special operation group and CRPF have encircled the jungle and blocked all escape routes.
He said that a large contigent of specially trained Special Operation Group ( SOG ) personel , CRPF man and Grey Hounds have also been deployed in combing operation against the Naxals. Many senior police officials are incharge of the anti-Naxal operation.
The Home Secretary said that the operation would continue till a single Naxalite would be spotted inside the forests.
A number of senior officials of Government of India have visited Nayagarh on Sunday to access the situation. All the dead bodies have been cremated with national honour.
Leader of opposition J.B. Patnaik, CPI legislator Narayan Reddy and others visited the affected police establishments of Nayagarh.
Odisha.in