The reign of terror continued to prevail in Odisha border area on Tuesday as the police and the members of People’s liberation Front of India (PlFI) engaged in exchange of fire in Dandapani jungle near Majhapara panchayat under the Raibaga police station in the Sundargarh district.
Acting on a tip-off, the Raibaga PS IIC Ramani Ranjan Dalei along with Special Operation Group (SOG) forces conducted combing operation in the jungle at about 12.30 pm and spotted a PlFI camp there. Before the police could swoop on them, six to seven Extremist members started firing at them.
In retaliation, the forces fired 15 rounds of bullets. While no casualty from either side was reported, the Maoist break-away members could manage to flee from the spot, leaving behind a number-less Bolero jeep. The cops seized the jeep and detained a woman from near the spot, sources said.
It may be noted that a few months ago the Maoist break-away outfit members had set ablaze a person belonging to Majhipara GP’s Jaikudar village, suspecting him as a police informer.
The gang is allegedly collecting extortion money from the businessmen, crusher owners and brick kiln owners in the bordering Raibaga area. One such incident had also occurred in Sundargarh-Simdega border area on Sunday night.