A Maoist insurgent was killed during an intense exchange of fire with security forces in the Budanai reserve forest area of Odisha’s Kandhamal district on Friday. Acting on a reliable intelligence tip-off, police initiated an operation in the forest region on October 23, which culminated in the encounter, officials reported.

Odisha police, along with special units, had been conducting combing operations over the past few days to flush out insurgents hiding in the dense forests of Kandhamal. Security forces, ensuring minimal collateral damage, successfully engaged the Maoists in the encounter, neutralizing one insurgent while others reportedly retreated into the forest cover.

While no casualties were reported from the police side, officials confirmed that search operations in the region will continue to ensure the area is cleared of remaining insurgent elements. The police recovered arms and ammunition from the site, and further investigations are ongoing to identify the deceased and any potential associates.