In an act of bravery, the Odisha Director General of Police, who was on a tour to Malkangiri and Koraput districts, changed his programme and diverted his chopper to Boudh to airlift two jawans injured in an anti-Maoist operation.

Abhay, the DGP who is kinown for his single name, and other senior police officials were on a tour to Malkangiri and Koraput districts to review anti-LWE work on Saturday. When he heard the news at Sunabeda, changed the schedule and rushed the helicopter to Padelpada in Boudh.

The injured two jawans have been airlifted to Bhubaneswar with the assistance of a local doctor. Now, both the commandos are under treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar and stated to be stable. Operation has been intensified in the area, the police said.

Odisha DGP Abhay
Odisha DGP AbhayIANS

"Today morning, there was an exchange of fire between the Odisha police's SOG jawans and Maoists under Gochapada PS of Kandhamal district. Two of our jawans have been injured and we got information that some Maoists are also injured," DGP Abhay said.

"I want to thank the BSF and their pilot. The chopper was not on duty for this service, it was engaged for a tour programme of Odisha police to Malkangiri and Koraput," he said.

An IAF (Indian Air Force) helicopter was also requisitioned but could not make it because of bad weather en route. But, the BSF pilot immediately took an alternative route and landed at a very small place named Padelpada, and successfully helped to airlift the injured jawans, the DGP informed.

Abhay thanked the doctor of Kantamal PHC, who immediately came for the service, even without changing his dress.

(With inputs from IANS)