Wanted Maoist commander gunned down in Orissa

Maoist leader Samir Khalko, who was involved in the killing of a sub-inspector and bombing railway stations in Orissa, was today gunned down by security forces during an encounter in Mundatola forest.
   
An encounter with the security forces began early this morning when they were fired upon by the armed Maoist group which Khalko was leading in the dense forest.
   
Khalko, the area commander of Nuagaon area of the Naxal outfit, was killed on the spot when the security forces retaliated, sources said.
   
The body was recovered from the spot and brought to Chandiposh police station.
   
Police said Samir was the leader of Maoist activities in Orisa-Jharkhand areas. He was involved in several Maoists activities including killing of Koida sub-inspector of police Ajit Bardhan nearly one-and-a-half-years ago. He was involved in blasting of railway stations at Chandiposh and Bandamunda.
   
Security forces seized a 9 mm pistol, 30 rounds of live cartridge and a bag containing uniform of Maoists and other articles from the spot.
   
The security forces finding the presence of Maoists in the forest area during the Bharat Bandh call given by the Naxal outfit had intensified their night combing operation in Mundatola area.
   
The combing operation was still continuing in theforest area, the police sources said.