AS MANY as 4 hardcore Maoists were neutralised in exchange of fire with Gadchiroli Police on the banks of river Indrawati near village Kawande in Bhamragad taluka on Friday morning, informed SP Nilotpal in a press conference on Friday. The dead Naxals include two men and two women. All the four Maoists have been identified as Sannu Pungati (35), a resident of village Kawande, Ashok Wadde (38), also a resident of village Kawande, Vinjo Hoyami (25), a resident of village Podiya in Chhattisgarh and Karuna Warse (21), resident of village Gongwada in Bhamragad taluka. All the 4 Naxals were carrying rewards on their heads. Based on a credible intelligence received about presence of Maoists formations on Maharashtra Chhattisgarh border near recently opened FOB Kawande, an operation led by Additional SP Ramesh and 12 C-60 parties (300 commandoes) and a component of CRPF was launched on Thursday noon from Kawande and Nelgunda towards bank of Indravati River amidst heavy rain in the area. On Friday morning, when the cordon was being laid and river bank was being searched, Maoists started indiscriminate firing on C-60 commandoes which led to effective retaliation by the police forces.

 

Intermittent exchange of fire continued for almost two hours. After searching the area, forces recovered 4 bodies of dead Maoist, along with some sophisticated weapons including one automatic Self-Loading Rifle, two 303 rifles and a Bharmar gun. Apart from this, walkie talkies, camping material, Naxal literatures etc also have been seized from the spot. Sannu, the commander of Bhamragad Dalam, had a reward of Rs 8 lakh on him while the other 3 members of the Dalam, carried rewards of Rs 2 lakhs each, informed the SP. Sannu was a while the three who were killed in the encounter were the Dalam. Several serious offences including encounters, arson, murders etc were registered against these outlaws. Since 2021, Contd from page 1 the Gadchiroli police have neutralised as many as 87 Naxalites and arrested 124 Naxalites. Nilotpal congratulated police officers and jawans involved in the operation and has appealed Naxalites to surrender before the police. Ankit Goel, DIG, Gadchiroli Range, M Ramesh, Additional SP (Admn) and Sathya Sai Kartik, Additional SP, Aheri, were also present at the press conference.