Malkangiri: Heavy exchange of fire between the police and Maoists continued in Tulasi Pahad area in Mathili block of Malkangiri district since Thursday evening.
Acting on a tip-off on the presence of a Maoist camp in the area, a team of District Voluntary Force and Special Operation Group personnel led by Malkangiri SP Jagmohan Meena began a combing operation, said Additional Director General of Police, Operations, RP Koche.
He said the Maoists had called the villagers for a meeting in the area. On seeing the police team, the ultras opened fire. The police immediately retaliated and the exchange of fire continued till Friday morning.
No bodies were found, but kit bags, Maoist literature and daily use articles have been recovered from the camp, the SP said.
The seized articles are being transported to the district police headquarters. In the last few months, Malkangiri police had four encounters with Maoists in Tulasi Pahad area.
PNN