CRPF and the naxalites on Saturday exchanged gunfire near Adki in Khunti district hours before an election rally scheduled to be addressed by AICC president Sonia Gandhi in the district, a senior police officer said here.

Security forces from Ranchi moved towards Adki area in Khunti where an encounter took place, Khunti superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar said.

Details are not yet available, Kumar, who was at the venue of the election meeting to be addressed by AICC president Sonia Gandhi, added.

Gandhi is scheduled to address a meeting at Katcheri maidan in Khunti and another election rally at Naxal-infested Chatra on Saturday.