Four Maoists gunned down in Gadchiroli encounter, weapons seized

Twenty C-60 parties and two Quick Action Teams (QAT) of CRPF, which is a total of over 550 commandoes, launched an operation on August 25 under the leadership of Additional SP (Operations) M Ramesh.

Braving heavy rains and difficult terrain, that is, travelling 25 km cross country and crossing ten hills, the teams reached the site after a 48-hour march. On the morning of August 27, the Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on the search parties. The security forces retaliated, leading to an exchange of fire that lasted nearly eight hours. While several Maoists managed to flee into the forest, four were gunned down.

The slain Maoists identified by Gadchiroli police are Malu Pada (41), Company No. 10, rank PPCM, carrying a Rs 6 lakh reward and eight crimes were registered against him; Kranti alias Jamuna Rainu Halami (32), Company No. 10, rank PM, carrying a Rs 4 lakh reward, booked for 27 crimes; Jyoti Kunjam (27), Aheri LOS, rank PM, carrying a Rs 2 lakh reward, booked for eight crimes; and Mangi Madkam (22), Gatta LOS, rank PM, carrying a Rs 2 lakh reward and booked in three crimes.

According to police, the four were involved in cases of murder, encounters and arson.

“This is the first time that a successful operation has been carried out against Company Number 10, which is a potent armed formation,” said SP Neelotpal.

From the encounter site, security forces seized four firearms, one SLR, two INSAS rifles, and one .303 rifle, along with 92 live rounds, three walkie-talkies, Maoist literature, and daily-use items. Anti-Maoist operations are being further intensified in the area, said Gadchiroli police.

This successful operation was carried out under the guidance of ADG (Special Operations) Dr Chhering Dorje, Spl IGP ANO Sandip Patil, DIG Gadchiroli Range Ankit Goyal, DIG (Ops) CRPF Ajai Kumar Sharma, SP Gadchiroli Neelotpal IPS, Dy Commandant of CRPF Sumit Verma and led by Additional SP (Ops) M Ramesh and C-60 and CRPF QAT commandos.

Police said that since 2021, sustained operations in Gadchiroli have led to the neutralisation of 91 hardcore Maoists, the arrest of 128, and the surrender of 75.

SP Neelotpal once again appealed to Maoists to shun violence and join the mainstream of development.

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