Nuapada: An exchange of fire took place between security forces and Maoists during a combing operation in the Patadhara reserve forest area under Sinapalli police limits on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border on Thursday.
“When a joint operation was being launched by SOG, CRPF and DVF personnel in the Patadhara reserve forest an exchange of fire took place between Naxals and a SOG team,” informed Pratyush Dibakar, SP, Nuapada addressing a presser.
Dibakar said that Naxals on seeing the security personnel fired at them first.
Following which security personnel returned the fire, Dibakar added.
“Our teams fired around 49 rounds. The Naxals managed to escape taking advantage of the hilly terrain and forest cover. During the search our teams have recovered some articles,” the SP said.
Further operation in the area is underway, he added.