Gadchiroli encounter: Six more Maoists confirmed dead, toll rises to 22

Only one member of the South Gadchiroli divisional committee now survives — Raghu, alias Naddela Sailu, sources said. Raghu’s wife Akhila was among the three women Maoists killed in Sunday’s encounter. (Representational Image)

A DAY after 16 Maoists were killed in an operation near Kasnasur village in Bhamragad tehsil of Maharashtra, the Gadchiroli Police Monday said six more rebels were killed near Rajaram Khanla village in Aheri tehsil. The encounter took place between 7 pm and 8 pm, sources said, in which Nandu, said to be a Dalam commander, was also killed.

Additional Superintendent of Police Maheshwar Reddy said: “Six Naxals have been killed in the encounter that took place between Damrancha and Rajaram Khanla.”

The encounter on Monday comes a day after what Maharashtra Police said was the biggest-ever success in its anti-Maoist operations. Earlier on Monday, Director General of Maharashtra Police, Satish Mathur appealed to the Maoists to surrender.

“With our ears on grounds, specialised training imparted to our men especially in the handling of IEDs and with better equipment procured recently and provided to our forces fighting against Naxalites, we have managed to bag success in the recent times. The Sunday morning operation is an example of solid workable information received through human intelligence and executed with precision. I, therefore, appeal to the Naxalites to surrender and give up arms,” Mathur said Monday, before the encounter.

According to Mathur, police had “pinpointed information” which they used to ambush the Maoists in the operation on Sunday. “There was pinpointed information pertaining to the meeting organised by the members on Sunday near the Kasnasur village in Tadgaon area. Two companies of C-60 men were deployed and our men managed to bag success,” he said.

“Since vehicles are prone to mine attacks and booby traps, patrolling is done on foot. Recently, we have imparted specialised training pertaining to handling and detection of IEDs and this has been very useful while carrying out patrolling,” he said.

The Maharashtra police has recently provided C-60 commandos and the Gadchiroli police with under-barrel grenade launchers (UBGL), night vision goggles, thermal imaging reflex sights, assault rifles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), bullet resistance jackets, helmets and shields. “Other than this hi-tech equipment, our men are undergoing training by NSG,” said an official.

 

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