Police kills 7 maoists, recovers huge cache of ammunition in Gadchiroli

Police on Tuesday recovered huge cache of arms and ammunitions in a joint operation with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which killed seven hardcore maoists in the Kotasurya jungles of Gadchiroli district.

Acting on a tip-off, the police and the CRPF team launched a joint operation and killed the maoists in an encounter.

"A joint operation was conducted by women cell of the police, police and CRPF (India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force), under which we scattered several teams in the entire area. Out of that the clash happened with one team, in which seven Maoists have been killed. One AK 47, two SLR (self loading rifle), a 3 knot 3 rifle, a 410 musket, pistol and complete ammunition has been seized," said Ravindra Kadam, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of Gadchiroli district.

Kadam said the massive operation would prove to be a major setback for the maoists.

Maoists are rebels who try to sink deep roots and form links after decades of neglect.

The maoists, also known as naxals, have killed police and politicians, and targeted government buildings and railway tracks in an insurgency that has killed thousands since the 1960s.

The rebels are estimated to number 7000 hardcore fighters in nearly a third of India's 630 districts.