Rourkela, Sept. 4: Police have killed two members of the militant outfit People Liberation Front of India (PLFI) in a "search and destroy" operation carried out in the Jarda forests, around 100km from here.

The police seized arms and ammunition from them.

Following an intelligence input, a 12-member commando team went deep into the forests of Jarda yesterday morning. The security forces had the information that 10-12 members of the PLFI were in the vicinity. Around 2pm, the team found the PLFI members, who were holding a camp there.

On seeing the security forces, the PLFI members fired at them and the commandos retaliated. In the exchange of fire that lasted for more than 30 minutes, two PLFI members - Shankar Munda, 35, and Bhima Munda, 32 - were killed.

Inspector general of police (western range) Radha Krishna Sharma said: "The encounter took place around 2 in the afternoon and they came under fire from the PLFI, despite identifying themselves. In retaliation, the police party fired at them."

The IG said the operation lasted for more than 30 minutes and the police fired over 200 rounds. "When the PLFI members realised the security forces would not retreat, they fled," said Sharma.

The security forces destroyed the camp and recovered two carbines fitted with magazines, two empty cartridges, two black air bags containing Rs 54,000 in cash, three mobile phones and one yellow TVS Apache bearing a Jharkhand registration plate. Later, it was found that the vehicle was registered in the name of Rajendra Prasad Ram of Ranchi.

Medicines, mirror and several other items were also seized from the camp.

Sharma said that Munda, who has over 13 cases against his name, had become an active member of the PLFI only after his release from jail last December. Munda's last crime was the Gramya Bank loot, in which he and his associates decamped with Rs 3.70 lakh. He has 10 cases registered against his name under Rourkela police district, two under Sundargarh and one under Manoharpur in Jharkhand.

"He was active with the Ashok and Mahesh gang and was trying to establish the PLFI in Sundergarh district," said Sharma.