A fierce gun-battle lasting more than 45 minutes took place between the security forces and Maoist rebels on Sunday afternoon in the Kistaram area of Sukma district, a senior police official said.
The gun-battle started at 2:30pm and a cache of explosives and Maoist literature were recovered from the spot, about 390km from here, said inspector general of police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P.
Security personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and the CRPF's CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) launched an operation from the Palodi camp and came under heavy Naxal fire inside the forests near Kasaram and Amapenta villages, the Bastar range police chief said.
"The exchange of fire between the security forces and Naxals' platoon number 8 lasted for more than 45 minutes. The ultras came under heavy fire and fled, leaving behind camping material, documents, electric wires, detonators and materials used to make explosives," the IG said.
Search operations in the region are underway and more details about the encounter would be known when the security team returns to the camp, he added.