Odisha Police along with Andhra Pradesh's Greyhound jawans continued the massive combing operation for the country's most wanted Maoist leader Ramakrishna alias RK, who managed to escape the encounter in which 24 ultras were killed, a top police source said today.
RK, who reportedly moves with a three-tier security, escaped. However, one of his armed security escorts identified as Budri, died in the exchange of fire. RK's son Muna alias Sivaji's body was also recovered by Odisha police following the encounter, the source said.
At least 24 Maoists, were killed in a fierce gun-battle with security forces in Odisha's Malkangiri district on the border with Andhra Pradesh yesterday.
It is now believed that RK was staying in a separate camp at a distance from the main camp which was targeted by the security personnel, the source said.
"We have sealed all the routes of the cut-off area," said Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra. The cut-off area includes 151 villages and surrounded by hills and forests on three sides and Balimale reservoir on the other.
The joint police teams, meanwhile, stepped up combing operation in areas adjoining Andhra Pradesh while armed security personnel stood guard on other side of the reservoir.
"We presume RK is in the cut-off area or might have escaped to Chhattishgarh," a senior police officer said.
Another source in Odisha police said the joint operation would not have taken place at Bejingi forest under Panasput gram panchayat area of Chitrakonda police station area in Malkangiri district at all, had RK not addressed a meeting at Jantri some days ago.
Police had information regarding presence of RK at the Maoist camp which prompted both the states to launch a concerted attack in Malkangiri's cut-off area, considered as the citadel of Maoists for three decades.
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