Police based on reliable inputs about movement of Maoists launched a combing operation on September 13 by a joint team of the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the District Voluntary Force.
On September 15, the SOG and DVF personnel had a faceoff with the ultras in the Pokharibund Reserve Forest under the Baligda police station.
Spotting the cops, the Maoists fired indiscriminately from sophisticated weapons. The police party retaliated in a controlled manner in self- defence. The Red rebels escaped from the spot taking advantage of the dense forest and hilly terrain. Police recovered three country made weapons with sling two plastic box, Maoist literature, uniforms and other articles said Kandhamal S Vinit Agrawal.
Again on September 16, the Maoists fired at SOG and DVF in Burhanai south reserve forest under the Tumudibandh PS. After the exchange of fire police recovered syringes, ration, thermo flask from the spot left behind by the fleeing ultras.
Police suspect 10 to12 rebels were present in camp including top leaders like Murali of the KKBN Division, Agarwal said.