Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Kandhamal, Jul 9:

In an unfortunate incident, five villagers, including two women and a minor boy, were reportedly killed during a combing operation near Gumudumaha village under Baliguda police limits in Odisha's Kandhamal district last night.

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Former Naib Sarpanch Kukal Digal was among the deceased, reports said. This apart, two SOG jawans have been injured in the firing.

"After getting information regarding movement of Maoists, the SOG had ambushed them. During crossfire from both the sides at Malapanga forest, an auto-rickshaw carrying the villagers came in between as a result of which five persons died. The incident will be probed," said Kandhamal SP Pinak Mishra.

Protesting the incident, locals of Paramapanga blocked the Gopalpur-Raipur road along State Highway-224 demanding a compensation of Rs 50 lakh and withdrawal of SOG and CRPF jawans from the area. On the other hand, BJP leader Sukant Panigrahi demanded a judicial probe into the matter.