After a lapse of three weeks, there were reports of another encounter between the Maoists and the security personnel in the Gudguda forest under Meghapal panchayat of Jujumura block in Sambalpur district on Thursday.
Reports said Special Operation Group (SOG) and CRPF personnel were on a combing operation on Thursday following information about the presence of some Maoists in the forest area between Tamparsingha and Marangbahal villages.
During the operation, the Maoists suddenly opened fire at the security personnel who immediately retaliated. After 30 minutes of exchange of fire, the Maoists fled the area. However, reports said, there was another round of exchange of fire at around 5 pm and it continued for over an hour.
Sambalpur Superintendent of police Pratik Mohanty told the media that the combing operation in the area has been intensified further. He, however, refused to give details of the encounter due to security reasons. Junu Dehuri, a hardcore Maoist and a native of Tamparsingha village, is presently leading the Maoist outfit in the area in collaboration with some top cadres of the outlawed party from the neighbouring Jharkhand.