Maoists had an encounter with the security forces in Sukhakani Barhahad forest near Dangteka village of the district in the wee hours of Wednesday.
The security forces busted a Maoist camp and recovered various materials. The camp was meant to accommodate 15 to 20 cadres and the security forces are on look out for more camps.
Combing operation has been intensified and the details will be revealed after the security forces reach Sambalpur. However, no casualty has been reported.
The operation was based on specific intelligence report that the Maoists were trying to develop a corridor which would unite the Left ultras from Jharkhand with their Chattisgarh counterparts. The Maoists also wanted to reorganise their base in the district.
The group is led by secretary of Dakshin Chhotanagpur zonal committee and hard core Maoist Samarji alias Anmol Hembram.
He had gone underground in the bordering areas of Jharkhand and Sundargarh for more than a year. He is supported by old Maoist hand Kunu Dehuri of Tampersingha village in Meghpal gram panchayat in Jujumura block of the district and Badal, originally from Jagatsinghpur district. Both of them played a major role in the growth of Maoists in the district.
Around 100 Maoists entered the district from Gurundia in Sundargarh district from Saranda forest in bordering Jharkhand which houses the headquarters of eastern regional bureau of the banned Left outfit. They are heavily armed with sophisticated firearms and weapons and the security forces are trying to chase them back to Sundargarh.
Confirming the report, DIG (North) Sanjay Kumar said the police and security forces are on offensive mode and under no circumstance, the Maoists will be allowed have foothold in the district. He said the Maoists are desperate to develop the corridor but the security forces and the police are on hot chase after them.
The last report of violence by the Maoists was reported in the district on October 26, 2011 when they had an exchange of fire with security forces in Jaduluising forest of the district in which the security forces had recovered arms and ammunition from a Maoist camp.