A BSF man was injured in an exchange of fire with Maoists in a forest in Odisha's Malkangiri district today, police said.
The encounter took place when a BSF team was searching the Tumkimarka forest in Gamphakunda gram panchayat, Kalimela Inspector in-Charge, S K Nayak said.
The BSF man was injured in the hand.
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The Maoists, some of whom were believed to be injured, fled after the encounter, he said.
The search was launched following the kidnap of three persons, including the son of a Sarpanch and a woman, from Gamphakunda village by Maoists last night.
One of those kidnapped managed to escape.
Efforts were on to rescue the other two.