Policeman, woman Maoist killed in Orissa gunbattle

BHUBANESWAR - A trooper of the Special Operation Group (SOG) and a woman rebel were killed in a gunbattle between police and the Maoists in Koraput district of Orissa early Thursday, police said.

“One SOG ‘jawan’ (soldier) and one Maoist were killed. Four jawans were injured in the incident. Out of the four, one succumbed to his injuries,” said Dipak Kumar, the superintendent of police of Koraput district.

The gunbattle started early Thursday, after a police convoy was ambushed in Yogipalur forests by the rebels.

The injured have been taken to Narayanpatna Hospital, he said.

“One jawan has been shifted to Vishakhapatnam for treatment after his condition deteriorated,” the official added. Koraput is about 500 km from here.