One armed member of the group was taken into custody and weapons, ammunition, many kit bags and revolutionary literature was recovered from the site following the exchange of fire that took place under Bodu police station limits at around 6.30 am, a senior police official told PTI.
"We got a specific input on the movement of 15 to 20 armed cadre of New Democracy group and deputed our police party. Noticing the group which was conducting a camp, the police asked them to surrender but they fired on the police party resulting in the exchange of fire," the senior police official said.
"One armed member has been taken into custody while other members, who are believed to be numbering 15 to 20 going by the recovery of the weapons, ammunition and kit bags, fled away during the exchange of fire.
"The search operation in and around the surrounding areas is continuing and would be completed by this evening," the police official added.