PATNA, July 8 -- The Bihar Special Task Force (STF) engaged in a fierce exchange of fire with Maoists in the Rajasarai forest area of Haweli Kharagpur in Munger district, recovering a huge cache of ammunition, police said on Monday. Acting on specific intelligence inputs received on Sunday, STF officials learned that armed Maoist cadres, including a hardcore operative identified as Suresh Koda, were holding a meeting in the forest. A C-level operation team, led by STF's anti-Naxalite unit, was immediately dispatched to the area. As the STF team closed in, the Maoists opened fire, prompting a retaliatory response from the police. "The Maoists fled under the cover of dense forest and darkness," said Munger Superintendent of Police (SP) Imran Syed Masood. During a search operation that followed, police recovered a large number of empty cartridges and several pitthus (kit bags) typically used by Maoists. A combing operation is still underway in the region. An FIR has been registered against Maoist leader Suresh Koda, his three named associates, and other unidentified ultras at the Kharagpur police station based on the statement of STF Sub-Inspector Binay Kumar Rai. According to the SP, the Maoists fired more than 125 rounds while the police fired approximately 80 rounds during the exchange. Munger Range DIG Rakesh Kumar said, "As the security forces gained the upper hand during the encounter, the Maoists fled the area using the cover of forest and mountainous terrain." He added that Maoist activity has significantly declined in Bihar. "Currently, only 18 districts in the country are considered Maoist-affected, while 28 others, including several in Bihar, are on the 'districts of maximum thrust' list-indicating a drop in activity but the need for continued vigilance."...