Exchange of fire took place between the police and suspected Maoists in the Balijodi area under the Koida police station of Sundargarh district on Wednesday afternoon.
After the incident, the suspected Maoists managed to flee from the spot. The police, CRPF and SOG personnel began a search operation to nab them.
Sources said that acting on a tip-off, a police team of Koida had gone to the Balijodi forest. The team intercepted a youth carrying an axe and while interrogating him, another youth from some distance started opening fire at the police personnel and, in return, the police team opened fire at the youth.
During this incident, the ax-carrying youth the one who had opened fire escaped from the spot. “We are on a search operation to nab the two youths.” said Bonai SDPO R Panigrahi.