14 Maoists killed in Odisha gun battle

At least 14 Maoists were killed in a fierce gun battle with police in Odisha's Malkangiri district Saturday, an official said.

The gun battle, which lasted for several minutes, took place in a forest close to the border with Chhattisgarh.

A police team led by District Superintendent of Police Akhileswar Singh, which included personnel from the district voluntary force, raided the site and retaliated when the extremists fired at them.

"Fourteen Maoists were killed. Arms were also seized," Inspector General of Police Soumendra Priyadarshi said.

Malkangiri, over 600 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, is considered a stronghold of Maoists.