The state police said the fighting erupted when a combing party comprising jawans of the elite anti-Naxal force — Special Operations Group (SOG) — and local policemen got ambushed by the rebels in a secluded part of the forest. The search team was intensively patrolling the area following a tipoff that Maoists were camping there.
A heavy exchange of fire from both sides soon erupted, leading to the death of at least three SOG jawans and injuries to 10 more security personnel. Four of the injured were airlifted to Visakhaptnam in Andhra Pradesh, when their condition is critical.
The remaining injured persons have been admitted to the district hospital at Parlakhemundi.
The deceased were identified as Sanjeet Kumar Tirkey, Balram Pradhan and Deepak Sonbhoy, the police said.
It is suspected that the Maoists too suffered some casualties, but no confirmation was available.
Rabindra Nath Choudhury