Four women Maoists have been killed during an exchange of fire with security personnel in Narayanpatna area of Odisha's Koraput district, the police said today. Acting on a tip off, the District Voluntary Force and Special Operations Group personnel launched a joint combing operation last night in the forest areas of Narayanpatna, Director General of Police R P Sharma said.


"As soon as the left-wing extremists saw security personnel approaching them, they opened fire. When the security forces retaliated, a fierce gun battle ensued between the two sides, leading to the death of four women cadres," Sharma explained. It appeared that 10 to 12 rebels of the Andhra-Odisha Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist) were present at the site during the encounter, he said. -- PTI