Maharashtra: 16 Maoists gunned down in Gadchiroli
NAGPUR: At least 16 suspected Maoist have been killed in an encounter with the C60 commandos at Boria forest in Gadchiroli district of the Vidarbha region on Sunday.The encounter took place in Tadgaon in Bhamragarh taluka when the commandos stormed a camp run by the Maoists.The death toll reported from the encounter site has dealt a massive blow to the rebel movement. This is the highest number of casualties of the red ultras reported in the history of the state.Initially, the security forces managed to recover 14 bodies from the spot. The toll later rose to 17 after three more bodies were found.Senior police officials said two C60 commando units from south Gadchirolis Pranhita headquarters were dispatched late on Saturday for the Tadgaon-Bhamragarh forest region following leads on presence of substantial numbers of the Maoist cadres in different formations , As Reported By TOI.
According to the Newspaper,An operation was launched early on Sunday before the Maoist formations were spotted at about 10.30am.A heavy exchange of fire ensued between the two sides as the Maoists were trying to wriggle out of the police cordon. Sources claimed that forces trapped the red guerrillas from all sides leaving them with no room to flee.DIG, Naxal Range, Ankush Shinde confirmed the death toll adding that two divisional commanders- Shinu and Sainath - were among those killed in the encounter.We are still gathering information about the encounter. The commandos are yet to return to the headquarters after completing their formalities, he said.Sources in the police department said the surrendered Maoists, who had accompanied the C60 commandos, had confirmed the identities of the two senior cadres.Additional SP, Gadchiroli, A Raja said a huge cache of arms and ammunition has been seized from the encounter site..