The exchange of fire took place when jawns of Special Operation Group, the state's elite anti-naxal force, were going on a combing operation in Pallur area under Narayan Patna police station, Y J Rao, SDPO of Narayana Patna, said.
The gunbattle, which began near the place where 10 jawans were killed in a landmine blast on June 18, was continuing till the report last came in, he said.
In another incident, Maoists blew up a mobile tower at Kiang in Malkanagiri district last night. The mobile tower of a private telecom company was badly damaged in the landmine blast, police said.
Communication was disrupted in the highly forested Malkangiri district due to damage to the mobile tower, Superintendent of Police Satyabrat Bhoi said.
The ultras also left posters at the site asking the government to stop combing operation in the locality.
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