Gaya (Bihar), Oct 18 Security forces have intensified combing operations to burst Maoists' hideouts after they came across the ultras during an encounter in the Barachatti forest area here on Saturday.

The encounter took place between Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) and Maoists when the former were combing the forest area after receiving a tip off.

"Our CRPF party was here on area domination on a tip off. Someone fired at them. A Naxal group was hiding here. Our party was at Grand Trunk Road side. Our party retaliated and fired at two boys on a motorcycle. They perhaps had pistols and when they were fired, they fled leaving the motorcycle behind," said Vijay Kumar, Commandant, CRPF.

According to Kumar, the hundreds of rebels are hiding in nearby villages. Security personnel have information about hiding of over 300 Maoists in the interior villages.

"Villages about 8-10 kilometres away in the forests. Those two were seen on a motorcycle with arms and their associates about 20-25 of them are possibly hiding in a nearby village. We will now comb the forest and the villages where they are possibly hiding," added Kumar.

Maoists are strengthening their force and resurging in the Bihar. Emboldened, by their growing influence they have increased their attacks recently.

This month alone has seen the rebels blowing of a railway track, three communication towers, burning of railway offices and a blasting a bridge in Bihar and its neighbouring Jharkhand state. (ANI)