An exchange of fire took place between Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres and Police near Kolampara village under the Gocchapada Police Station in Kandhamal District of Odisha during a combing operation on April 5, reports The Pioneer. Following intelligence inputs, a team of the Special Operations Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) launched a search operation. But spotting the security personnel, the Maoists fired indiscriminately leading to exchange of fire by Security Forces (SFs) in retaliation, however, after the encounter which lasted 20 to 25 minutes, the Maoists escaped from the spot taking advantage of the difficult terrain. Kandhamal Superintendent of Police (SP), Vinit Agarwal, on April 7, said, the Maoists might belong to the 'Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) Division' led by Dasaru. The Police team seized solar plates, flexible wire, haversack, medicine, Maoist literature, camp article, charge light and codex wire from the spot.