Three Maoists were killed early Friday in a gun battle with police in Odisha's Rayagada district, an official said.
After receiving a tip-off on Maoist presence, a team of Special Operations Group and district voluntary force personnel raided a forested area under the Doraguda police station.
An official of the district anti-Naxal cell said the guerrillas opened fire after being cornered.
Three Maoists were gunned down at the spot. Their bodies were recovered, the official said.
The district headquarters of Rayagada is 400 km from the state capital, Bhubaneswar. The region where the gun battle took place is considered a Maoist stronghold.