Gadchiroli : In a major counter-insurgency operation, Maharashtra police gunned down four hardcore Naxalites, including three women, during a fierce encounter in the Koparshi forest of Gadchiroli district on Wednesday.
Acting on specific intelligence, a massive joint team of 19 C-60 commando units and two CRPF Quick Action Teams, led by DySP M. Ramesh, launched the operation despite heavy rainfall in the region. The forces reached the dense forest along the Gadchiroli–Narayanpur (Chhattisgarh) border early in the morning.
The Maoists opened fire on the security personnel, triggering an intense gun battle that lasted nearly eight hours. After the encounter, the bodies of four Naxalites were recovered from the site.
Security forces seized a cache of weapons, including one SLR rifle, two INSAS rifles, and a .303 rifle. A search operation is still underway to trace other members of the rebel group.
Officials said the operation is a significant setback to Naxal activities in the Red Corridor and reflects the strengthened coordination between state and central forces in the fight against Left-Wing Extremism.
