Rayagada: A fierce gun battle broke out between suspected members of CPI (Maoist) and police during a combing operation by the latter under Muniguda area in Rayagada district in the wee hours today.

As per the report, a joint team of CRPF personnel from Muniguda and Kalyansinghpur areas of Rayagada and Bijapur of Kalahandi were carrying out a combing operation when the attack took place. After the Red-rebels opened fired at police, cops retaliated to force them to vanish into the forest leaving behind a huge amount of Maoist booty.

Police have intensified combing operation in Niyamgiri area to nab the holed up rebels post the incident.