Arms seized after gun battle with Maoists in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Police seized arms and ammunition from a forested area of Gajapati district after a brief gun battle with Maoists, an official said on Thursday.

No casualties were reported from either side in the gunfight that took place Wednesday near Barimunda village, over 400 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar, superintendent of Police Satyajit Nayak said.

"A joint team comprising police and district voluntary force personnel retaliated after coming under heavy fire from the Maoists during a patrol. The exchange of fire lasted for 20-25 minutes," he said.

"The guerrillas managed to escape. Police seized one rifle, 30 cartridges, two magazines, utensils, Maoist uniforms and many other items from the site during a search," Nayak said.