Security forces, Maoists exchange fire

MALKANGIRI: The security forces and the Maoists exchanged fire in a forest in the district on Sunday morning. The police claimed that some of the Red rebels were injured in the firing.Acting on a tip-off about presence of a large number of rebels, security personnel conducted raids in Padigata forest under Kalimela police limits, around 60 km from here, SP Anirudh Singh said.When the ultras opened fire from their hide-out, the security personnel retaliated, leading to the exchange of fire, he said, adding that the Maoists escaped into the dense forest after a brief encounter.Though some of the ultras, who had planned to observe the Independence Day as a ‘black day’, were believed to have sustained injuries during the encounter, a clear picture is yet to emerge, sources said.While about nine persons have been detained for questioning, a massive combing operation has been launched by police and the elite anti- Maoist Special Operation Group (SOG) in the area in an effort to nab the ultras. The Maoists had waved black flags and posters in the area on Saturday.