Mumbai: The Maharashtra Police reported that four Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Gadchiroli on Tuesday. The operation also led to the recovery of weapons and Naxalite literature from the site.
The deceased were identified as divisional committee members Vargeesh and Magtu, along with platoon members Kursang Raju and Kudimetta Venkatesh. The Maharashtra government had previously announced a collective cash reward of Rs 36 lakh for their apprehension.
According to an officer, credible intelligence received on Monday afternoon suggested that members of the Telangana state committee had crossed the Pranhita river from their state and infiltrated Gadchiroli to carry out subversive activities ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Multiple squads of the elite C60 force, dedicated to combating Maoist insurgency, along with the CRPF Quick Action Team (QAT), were mobilized from the Aheri sub-police headquarters under Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations) Yatish Deshmukh to conduct a search operation in the area.
During the early hours of Tuesday, one of the C60 teams encountered indiscriminate firing from Naxalites in the Kolamarka mountains, located 5 km southeast of SPS Repanpalli. In response, the security forces launched a robust retaliation against the attackers.
Subsequently, the bodies of the four Naxalites were recovered from the vicinity, along with an AK-47, a carbine, two country-made pistols, Naxalite literature, and other belongings. Authorities have intensified search operations and anti-Naxal activities in the region.
