Among 10 rebels killed in Chhattisgarh gunfight, 2 Maoists with Odisha link

Bhubaneswar: Two top-ranking Maoist commanders, who were prominent leaders of the organisation in Odisha, were among 10 rebels killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district on Thursday.“Modem Balakrishna (63) and Pramod (58), who were the top-two Maoist leaders in Odisha, are among those killed in the encounter. They were involved in a series of violence in Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal and Nayagarh in the past,” ADG (anti-Naxal operations), Odisha, Sanjeeb Panda told TOI.Balakrishna was a central committee member (CCM). He was heading the organisation’s activities in Odisha as state committee secretary (in-charge). Pramod, alias Pandu alias Alvala Chandrahas, was the second-in-command, holding the position of KKBN (Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh division) secretary. Pramod was a member of the Odisha state committee of the Maoist outfit.Police sources revealed that Balakrishna and Pramod carried bounties of Rs 25 lakh and Rs 20 lakh, respectively, in Odisha.