police, naxals exchange fire

Siddapura, Nov. 17: Naxalites traded gunfire fire with police and the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) in daasikaanu forest area in Udupi district in the early hours today, a senior police official said.
IGP (Western Range), Satyanarayana Rao, told reporters here that on a tip-off, the police, along with ANF squad, rushed to the spot.
The naxalites fired four rounds at the police, while police fired back 20 rounds, he said, adding there were no casualties.
The naxals escaped and a torch and handkerchief were recovered from the spot.
He said joint combing operations had been intensified and a dog squad pressed into service.
Rao said combing operations in naxal-affected areas of the Western Ghat region had been further stepped up.