Bhubaneswar, May 14: A joint team of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh police today attacked a Maoist camp inside the Kurub forests in Malkangiri district engaging the rebels in an exchange of fire.

Reports from the area said casualties, if any, had not been ascertained so far. “It’s a difficult terrain. It will take time to find out if there have been deaths or injuries,” said a senior officer posted in the area. Talking to The Telegraph, Malkangiri superintendent of police Aniruddha Singh said the operation against the rebels was still on, but he was not sure if the firing had stopped.

The encounter coincided with a statewide bandh called by the rebels to protest against the alleged detention of three Maoists by the Bhubaneswar police a few days ago.

The attack on the Maoist camp, the second such operation in Malkangiri district since the kidnapping and release of former collector R. Vineel Krishna, began around 10.30am. Around 50 rebels camping in the forest had taken positions and started firing on the security forces who retaliated. “It was a fierce encounter and the firing continued for several hours. The Maoists have retreated deeper into the forest located in Kalimela region of the district where the security forces had earlier killed a woman rebel,” said an officer.

Security, not only in Malkangiri, but also in several other districts of Orissa, was tight today in view of the Maoist-sponsored bandh which forced vehicles off the roads in the rebel strongholds where business establishments also downed shutters. The impact of the shutdown was particularly visible in districts such as, Kandhmal, Rayagada, Koraput and Gajpati apart from Malkangiri.

Kandhmal superintendent of police Praveen Kumar said security had been stepped up in areas such as, Daringbadi, Kotgarh and Brahmanigaon, where the bandh hit normal life with vehicles keeping off roads and most of the shops remaining closed.

Long distances buses, plying between Parlakhemundi and Bhubaneswar, either stopped operation or went via Andhra Pradesh. Private bus operators suspended services between Rayagada-Bhubaneswar, Gunpur and Berhampur fearing attacks.

Sources said Maoists had blocked roads at several places by felling trees to prevent movement of the security forces. The problem was particularly acute in Malkangiri, Rayagada and Gajpati, which are known rebel strongholds.

“We will start clearing the roads tomorrow. The job has to be done in the day time as the rebels might have planted landmines under the roads,” said an official.