Maoists open fire in Orissa market, kill 2

A CRPF jawan and a Maoist were killed and six others injured in two separate gun battles between security personnel and Left-wing extremists in the district today.

Maoists opened fire at a weekly market at MV-79 village—70 km from here—and injured a civilian, the police said. CRPF personnel, who were patrolling nearby, also returned fire as panic spread in the entire area. The gun battle lasted for about 90 minutes, in which five CRPF personnel and another person were injured.

CRPF and Special Operation Group reinforcements were rushed to the village and a combing operation was launched.

The second encounter occurred at MPV-47 village between security personnel and ultras in which a Maoist was killed. The four injured CRPF men and a villager were later rushed to Kalimela, from where they were airlifted to a hospital in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.