Malkangiri: A Maoist was gunned down in an exchange of fire with a team of the district voluntary force in the district on Saturday.

The deceased has been identified as Urra Kurami, alias Uddham, of the 26th military platoon of the CPI (Maoist) active in Tulsi Pahad area bordering Chhattisgarh.

Based on intelligence about a Maoist camp in the Tulsi Pahad area, the cops started a search operation on Saturday morning.

"After spotting our men, the Maoists fired and we retaliated. Around 10 to 15 Maoists were present at the time of firing, which started around 11am and continued for the next one hour," said Malkangiri police superintendent Jagmohan Meena. "Unable to face heavy firing from our side, the Maoists fled. Some of our men have received minor injuries but we have no casualties."