Wednesday, February 8 2006 16:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: After last night's encounter between Maoists and police, which left two rebels dead and two women cadres arrested at Akuldoba in West Midnapore district, the police were combing the forested area today (Feb 8,2006).

West Bengal IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said senior police officials, including DIG, Midnapore range, were leading the combing operation.

He said on a tip-off a police team had arrested two Maoists from the Bhulabheda forest under Belpahari Police Station last night. When a second police team reached the spot, the Maoists exchanged fire with them.

The IGP said the Maoists might have slipped into Jharkhand.

Police sources said the Maoists were holding a meeting in the forest when the encounter occurred.

Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi had last week stated the Maoists were trying to create a 'compact revolutionary zone' to be used as a corridor from Andhra Pradesh to Nepal.

He had said the Maoists were trying to reorganise, both at underground and open levels and had accumulated a sizeable amount of arms and ammunition.