Although the operation in Debabhuin forests under Narasinghpur block in the district lasted for over 10 hours, there was no sign of Maoists movement in the area, Cuttack rural SP R K Mishra said.

We searched the forests and interacted with the neighbouring villagers. No one confirmed the reports nor could we get any indication of radical forces crossing the forest, he said.

According to reports, at least four armed men suspected to be Naxalites entered the Munda Sahi village near Debabhuin forest on February 1 night in a car and asked the villagers to cook food for around 30 persons.

But, when the villagers refused to cook food for them and asked them to leave the village, the armed men threatened to kill all male members of the village.

However, the villagers gathered courage and chased the four who drove inside the jungle, but not before warning that they would return with more strength, police said.