Police in Chhattisgarh repulsed a major attack by Maoist rebels who fired at a police station but fled when the cops retaliated, officials said.

The incident took place Thursday night in Bastar, bordering Andhra Pradesh, when a group of about 25 guerrillas attacked the Pamer police station. After a 20-minute gun battle, they ran into the nearby forest for cover.

M.W Ansari, Bastar Range inspector general of police, said no one was injured in the incident.  Security has been strengthened around the police station as more attacks are expected.

The area is considered a Maoist stronghold and intelligence reports say there are training centres and explosives units in the forests.

The attack came a day after Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma described the "curfew like situation" that existed in the entire Bastar region because of "Maoist rebels' rising strength".

After his visit to Bastar Wednesday, Karma described the situation as grim and blamed the government for the rise in Maoist violence and "people's growing attachment" to the guerrillas.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the government has put off its proposed anti-Maoist operation in Bastar for the moment. A fresh decision would be taken after consulting the home ministry.