Bhubaneswar: At 12 civilians and two security personnel were killed in Maoist violence in the state from April to October 2007,the Orissa Assembly was informed today.
Only two Maoists were gunned down by the police during the period, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also in- charge of the home department, said in a written reply.

Patnaik pointed out that while 12 civilians were killed, nine others were injured in Maoist violence. Similarly, 20 jawans were also injured in violence in different places.

The civilian death reports were received from the districts of Malkangiri (three), Rayagada (one), Sambalpur (one), Dhenkanal (three), Mayurbhanj (one) and Deogarh (three). "The highest number of 14 civilians were killed in 2005," he said.

The two security personnel who died this year during gunbattle with the extremists were reported from Malkangiri district, while 14 jawans sustained injuries. Six other jawans were injured in Mayurbhanj district. On Apil 29,2007,two militants lost their lives while exchanging fire with CRPF personnel at MV-79 in Malkangiri district, Patnaik said.

Source : PTI