Sundergarh, Aug 14: In a major breakthrough for security forces, Arun alias Nilesh Makdam, a wanted area commander of the banned CPI (Maoist), was killed during an encounter near the Odisha-Jharkhand border.

According to reports, the encounter took place in the dense and hilly terrain of Souta, under the Goilkera police station limits in the Saranda forest region, where Makdam had been operating for the past five years.

Security personnel also recovered a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), live ammunition, and Maoist literature from the site.

Makdam carried a bounty of Rs 2 lakh on his head.

Officials confirmed that the operation was part of an intensified anti-Maoist drive in the border areas.

Reportedly, the area has been cordoned off and further search operations are underway.

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