Maharashtra: 12 Naxals killed in encounter in Gadchiroli district

In Maharashtra, 12 Naxalites were killed in an anti-naxal operation by C-60 commandos of Gadchiroli police at Etapalli block in the Gadchiroli-Chhattisgarh border. Naxalite opened fire on the police party that was carrying out an anti-naxal operation in the forest of Vandoli village in Etapalli block. The police also counterfire in response. The superintendent of Gadchiroli police, Nilotpal, informed that 12 Naxalites were killed in this encounter. He said the search operation has intensified in this area. The police have recovered the bodies of 12 Naxalites. Police said the operation lasted six hours and after a fierce gunfight.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.
They have also recovered weapons, including three AK-47 rifles, two INSAS rifles, one carbine, and one self-loading rifle. In this six-hour gun battle, one police sub-inspector and a constable have been injured, and they have been shifted to Nagpur for treatment. The Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, said this is one of the major Naxal encounters in the last few years. He also announced a reward of 51 lakh rupees for the Gadchiroli police for their act of bravery.