Phulbani: The personnel of Odisha's elite Special Operation Group today had an hour-long exchange of fire with Maoists at Lankagarh reserve forest in Kandhamal district.
Though there was no casulty, the police seized a huge amount of explosive making materials, powder and old currency notes from the spot, Pinak Mishra SP, Kandhamal, said.
The SP said that about 25 Maoists with arms and ammunition on them escaped.
IG, Southern Range, Amitabh Thakur, said a search to locate the escaped Maoits was being carried out.