Terming the killing of three women Maoists in Kalahandi district as a big success, Odisha's Director General of Police K B Singh today said anti-naxal operations would be intensified in areas bordering states like Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
While Maoists have lost local support in Odisha, their counterparts from Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand appear to have become active in bordering areas, Singh said while briefing reporters about the gunning of three ultras in Sahajkhaol Reserve Forest in Kalahandi district yesterday.
Therefore, operations against the Left Wing Extremists would be intensified in these areas soon, he said.
Stating that Kalahandi encounter was a big success for the police, the DGP said as many as nine encounters with the naxals have taken place so far this year in which four Maoists have been killed and three rebel camps destroyed.
On yesterday's encounter, Singh said the exchange of fire took in Sahaskhol reserve forest area yesterday evening after the Maoists opened fire at personnel of the Special Operation Group (SOG) who retaliated in self defence.
While three lady Maoist cadre were neutralised in the exchange of fire, two .303 rifles, one 9 mm pistol, a 12-bore gun, 50 rounds of live ammunition, three kit bags and other camp articles were recovered during search operation.
The deceased Maoists appear to be from Chhattisgarh, he said adding efforts were on to ascertain their identify.
Special Director and ADG (Intelligence), Arun Sarangi, who was present, said of the listed Maoists, 15 per cent cadre are in Odisha, around 55 per cent in Chhattisgarh, 15 percent in Andhra Pradesh and the rest are in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
