Twenty BSF jawans and Orissa's elite anti-naxalite force-SOG had a narrow escape in a landmine explosion in Koraput district while security men entered into a day-long exchange of fire with Maoists in Bolangir district, police said.
"BSF and SOG jawans were on way to clear road of felled trees from Narayanpatna to Laxmipur when an explosion took place.
However, no one was injured as the landmine exploded at Odiapentha before arrival of the police van," Superintendent of Police, Anup Kumar Sahoo said.
It was suspected that Maoists had exploded the landmine as they showed black flags and pasted posters in Ramgiri, Lamtaput and Baipariguda areas of Koraput district and Kalimela and Motu areas of Malkangiri, the police said.
Meanwhile, a report from Bolangir district said that the security personnel comprising the state police and the SOG entered into an encounter during a combing operation.
The security personnel had gone on combing operation a day after ultras gunned down a ruling BJD leader Kishore Panda. The encounter continued till late evening, said Bolangir SP Abinash Kumar.
About 50 ultras were engaged in the battle, he said.