DUMKA: Intensive search operation was launched on Sunday by security forces to nab rebels involved in the fierce gun-battle in Naxal-hit Gopikandar police station area on Saturday.In a joint press conference, senior police and SSB officials said security forces were fired upon indiscriminately by the Maoists as they close in on the rebels' camp."Firing from both the sides lasted for one hour but they finally escaped taking advantage of the dark and dense forests," SSB IG Sanjay Kumar said, adding that bodies of the two dead rebels and firearms, cartridges, Naxal literatures, medicines and other items were recovered from the camp.Both the deceased who were part the group of about 15-20 armed rebels, however, have not yet been identified.According to the officials, several of the rebels were injured in the security forces' retaliation and the search operation was launched to nab them. Security forces of Godda and Pakur districts are also part of the chase , the officials said."As the site of the conflict falls along the borders of Dumka, Pakur and Godda districts, security forces comprising paramilitary and district police forces of respective districts are also joining hands to hunt down the rebels' hideouts and to nab those who escaped," Kumar said.The officials said the rebels were camping in the area with an intention to extort from people and disrupt development activities taking place in the Santhal Pargana region. They will soon be rooted out from the region, the officials added.

Stay updated with all the Latest Ranchi headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.