Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), May 23: In a major anti-Naxal operation, the security forces gunned down as many as four hardcore Maoists in an intense exchange of fire near the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border on Friday morning.
Acting on credible intelligence inputs, a joint team of Gadchiroli Police and CRPF personnel launched a targeted anti-Naxal operation led by Additional SP Ramesh and included 12 C60 commando teams with about 300 people, plus a CRPF unit.
As per reports, the operation started on Thursday at noon from Kawande and Nelgunda and moved toward the Indravati riverbank near the new Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kawande, amid heavy rain in the area.
While setting up a cordon and searching the riverbank on Friday morning, Maoists opened fire at the C60 commandos without warning, to which the retaliated effectively.
Thereafter, an intense gunfight ensued between the two sides that lasted for almost two hours. Afterward, the security officials conducted a search in the area that found the bodies of four Maoists, along with one automatic Self Loading Rifle, two .303 rifles, and a Bharmar gun.
The officials also found walkie-talkies, camping gear, and Naxal-related papers at the scene.
Anti-Naxal operations and searches are currently underway to find the remaining Maoists.
