The police on Thursday exchanged fire with Maoists in the Kalitota forest near the Nuagaon area under the Kotagarh police station in Kandhamal district when the police were continuing their combing operations in the forest.
According to reports, the Maoists suddenly opened fire at the policemen, who were engaged in the combing operation on the border of Kandhamal and Rayagada districts in the Kalitota forest in the morning. The police launched a counterattack that led to the gunfight, which continued further, said Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Kanwar Vishal Singh.
“Till now, we have no information about any casualty,” Singh said, adding that the encounter was still going on.