There was a brief exchange of gunfire between security personnel and a group of armed Maoists in a forested area of Odisha's Malkangiri district Thursday, an official said.
Inspector General of Police (Operation) Soumendra Priyadarshi said the gunfight between Border Security Force (BSF) troopers and the rebels took place in the Gamphakonda forest of the district.
"The gunfight lasted for several minutes. Further details are awaited," he told IANS.
Malkangiri district, about 620 km from Bhubaneswar, is considered a Maoist stronghold.
The latest incident comes less than a week after the Maoists ambushed a police party in Sunabeda forest area of Nuapada district and shot dead two policemen.
