Rourkela/Keonjhar, June 18: Security forces claimed to have killed a suspected woman Maoist cadre and overrun a rebel training camp in Saranda forest in Sundargarh on the Odisha-Jharkhand border even as two Maoists surrendered before the Keonjhar police today.

Security forces rushed to Langalakanta village in the deep forests of Saranda in K Balang police limits after getting a tip-off that over 30 Maoists, which included top cadre such as Anmol, had gathered nearby. However, by the time they reached the spot, the rebels had retreated into the jungles. The security men followed their trail, but met with heavy fire from the Maoists at Mundatola.

They retaliated immediately by firing under the barrel grenade launcher (UBGL), which the Maoists were unable to counter. The security personnel said they saw a woman cadre fall to the bullets. But, they could not retrieve the body as her comrades took it away, leaving bloodstains at the spot.

Rourkela police chief Himanshu Lal said: “We had definite information about their (the Maoists’) presence at Langalakanta village and our forces moved in that direction. But, they left the place. Soon the security forces encountered them and a heavy exchange of fire took place.”

Lal, however, did not confirm the death, as no body was found.

During the operation, the security forces recovered a sten gun and a 303 rifle from the camp. “They have also found a few drums full of diesel, raw food material and prepared food, uniform, large amounts of medicine, posters, leaflets and magazines and Maoist literature from the camp,” said sub-divisional police officer S.S. Sethy.

In a related development, two Maoist cadres surrendered at the district police office at Keonjhar. They have been identified as Janaki Saya alias Tulasi, 35, and her younger brother Admond Saya alias Sadhu, 30, of Totasahi village in Harichandanpur police limits.