Giridih, Nov. 16: An armed squad of CPI(Maoist) attacked a Border Security Force (BSF) camp at Khudishar in the Dumri police station area of the district late last night.

One of the 11 companies of BSF that reached here on poll duty — to take on the banned outfit according to the Centre’s planned operation against extremists — were the first in the Maoist line of fire.

The forces had arrived at the Khudishar camp, on the premises of a primary school, only two days ago.

Superintendent of police (SP) Ravikant Dhaan said the rebel squad comprised two dozen members who descended on the BSF camp around 9.30pm.

They opened indiscriminate fire with semi-automatic weapons. The BSF jawans retaliated.

The SP confirmed that no one from either side was injured in the firing.

“The Maoists fired around 20 rounds and in reply we fired over 30 rounds. But, as it was just their strategy to check the nerves and preparations of forces, no further exchange of fire took place,” said a senior police officer, on condition of anonymity.

But officers did not deny that a long battle is waiting in the region between forces and Maoists.

Police further said according to Naxalite strategy, they did not target any policeman.

The incident has made higher officials sit up and take notice of strategies adopted by the Maoists.

Most of the 13 blocks under Giridih district are Maoist strongholds and sources said the outfit has a training centre at Parasnath Hills.

It will be a big challenge for security forces to flush them out of here.

Though police officers kept mum about their planned move, sources said in several areas of the district forces have been deployed to check Maoists activities.

A fortnight ago when elections in Jharkhand were notified, Maoists had blown up two school buildings in Deori block to stop the forces from taking shelter.