A gunfight broke out Sunday in a forest in Kerala's hilly Wayanad district between the state police's anti-Maoist Thunderbolt unit and the left-wing rebels, state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said.

 

 

 Speaking to IANS, Chennithala said the exchange of fire took place Sunday evening in the tribal settlement area of Vellamunda area. 

 

 "Police have been tracking them (the Maoists) and in the exchange of fire, there has been no damage," he said. 

 

 Following this gunfight, additional police forces was rushed to the area. 

 

 The Kerala Police have been maintaining a close watch in the tribal areas as these were the places that the Maoists used to frequent. Two companies of the Thunderbolts are camping in the forest area.

 

 "Things are absolutely under the control of police and there is no need for any panic or fear as our police are fully geared and ready to tackle them," added Chennithala. 

 

 The presence of Maoists in the Wayanad district that borders Karnataka has been reported before and one reason according to those in the know of things is that these Maoists have been able to get ground support and hence tracking them down has become difficult.