The Hindu : Front Page : 15 killed in naxalite raids on Orissa police depots

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Sunday, Feb 17, 2008
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15 killed in naxalite raids on Orissa police depots

Prafulla Das

Large quantities of arms and ammunition looted

— Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

MAYHEM AT MIDNIGHT: The gutted remains of the district armoury in Nayagarh after a naxalite attack.

NAYAGARH (ORISSA): Hundreds of armed Maoists simultaneously raided several police establishments in Nayagarh district late on Friday night, killing 15 persons, including 13 policemen, and looting large quantities of arms and ammunition.

A village guard and one civilian were the others killed. Ten persons, including nine policemen, were injured.

The operation started at 10.30 p.m. and ended at 0030 hours on Saturday. Police swung into action and encircled the Kupari forests, where the Maoists had taken shelter.

Till last reports came in, two extremists were gunned down in the combing operation undertaken by 800 security personnel belonging to the Orissa police, the Andhra Pradesh police, and Central para-military forces. Two Maoists were also arrested.

Two Air Force bomber helicopters were pressed into service to locate the Maoists. If needed the naxalites would be bombed, highly placed sources said.

According to Nayagarh Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar, the naxalites first blocked all the four entry points to Nayagarh town and then attacked the arms depot at the local police training school, the district armoury and the local police station, catching the security personnel off guard.

The Maoists, numbering around 600, came in several vehicles. There were three trucks, one jeep, and several motorcycles. Around 100 women were part of the attackers.

While a majority of the extremists opened fire at the arms depots and police stations, many stood guard at prominent locations of the town after blocking the road with boulders and their vehicles. The roads to Mr. Kumar’s residence were also blocked.

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