15 Maoists killed in Gadchiroli encounter

NAGPUR: The Maharashtra police on Friday said they have killed at least 15 suspected Maoists in a gun battle in a forest area between Potegaon and Rajoli in the state’s Gadchiroli district.

The exchange of fire began at 5.30 am when 200 personnel of an anti-maoist squad raided a Maoist hideout after receiving specific information, they added.

“We kicked off the operation early [Friday] morning after learning about Maoist presence in the forest. So far, 13 bodies have been recovered from the site. Searches are still on,” said Sandip Patil, the deputy inspector general of police, Gadchiroli.

District police superintendent Ankit Goyal said some weapons and Maoist literature have been recovered from the site of the encounter. He said several Maoists escaped and took away the bodies of some of their colleagues.

The commander of the local Maoist dalam (squad) is reportedly among those killed. The bodies were yet to be identified, and search operations were still on, said Goyal.