12 Naxals killed in encounter with police on Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border

According to Gadchiroli Police, they received information that 12-15 Maoists were camping near Wandoli village, following which an operation was launched around 10 am on Wednesday. Seven teams, comprising commandos of the elite C-60 unit and other district police personnel, were sent to the location.

Police said the operation lasted six hours and after a fierce gunfight, the bodies of 12 Maoists were recovered. Several automatic weapons were also found at the site.

“A heavy exchange of fire began in the afternoon and continued intermittently until late evening for more than six hours. Area searches have resulted in the recovery of 12 Maoist bodies so far,” said a senior police officer.

“A police sub-inspector from the C-60 unit and another personnel sustained bullet injuries. They are now out of danger, evacuated, and shifted to Nagpur.”

Two of the dead Maoists were identified as Divisional Committee member Laxman Atram alias Vishal Atram, who was in charge of the Tipagad Dalam, and Sarite Parsa, an Area Committee member.

Gadchiroli SP Neelotpal said, “Further identification of the Maoists and area searches are ongoing.”

Officials said searches led to the recovery of three AK-47 rifles, two INSAS rifles, one carbine, and one SLR from the site.

Following the encounter, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the Guardian Minister of Gadchiroli, announced a cash reward of Rs 51 lakh for the C-60 commandos and Gadchiroli Police for the operation.

In May, three Maoists, including two women, were killed in an encounter in Gadchiroli. Three automatic weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, were recovered along with Maoist literature.