An exchange of fire took place between security forces and Maoists in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on Monday, a police official said. According to the police, no casualty was reported from either side during the firing. The skirmish took place at around 6.30 am near the Kothi police outpost when commandos of C-60, a specialised anti- Naxal unit of Maharashtra police, were on patrolling duty in a forest area near Koparsi village, the official said.

Maharashtra: A brief exchange of fire took place between state police and Naxals in Kopori Gaon forest area in Gadchiroli; Naxals managed to escape. More details awaited

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2019

The Maoists on seeing the security personnel, started firing at them, to which the police retaliated, the officer added. The exchange of fire continued for over an hour following which the rebels fled into the forest, he said. "There was no report of any casualty on either side," he said, adding that combing operation was on in the area. On May 1, at least 15 security personnel and a driver were killed after suspected Maoists attacked a police vehicle in Gadchiroli.