At least 26 Maoists were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in a dense forest in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, police said on Saturday. Four policemen were also injured in the encounter and were taken to Nagpur for treatment.
The injured policemen have been identified as Ravindra Naitam (42) Sarveshwar Atram (34) Maharu Kudmethe (34) and Tikaram Katange (41) .
“We have recovered the bodies of 26 naxals so far from the forest,” said district Superintendent of Police Ankit Goyal.
The gun battle took place in the morning at Korchi in Mardintola forest area when a C-60 police commando team was conducting a search operation led by additional SP Soumya Munde, Mr Goyal said.
While identity of the Maoists killed was yet to be ascertained, according to sources a top rebel leader was suspected to be among them.
