16 Naxals killed in encounter with security forces in Maha's Gadchiroli

Sixteen Naxals were killed in an encounter with police commandos and CRPF personnel in Gadchiroli district in east Maharashtra today, a senior official said.

While senior police officers said death of top cadres in the gun battle is a possibility, Gadchiroli Police, in a press release, said the deceased included some high-ranking ultras.

The encounter broke out at Kasansur forest in Bhamragad between the ultras and a joint team of security forces comprising C60 commandos, a specialised combat unit of the Gadchiroli police, and personnel of the 9th Battalion of the CRPF, around 10 am. It lasted for 90 minutes, DIG (Gadchiroli) Ankush Shinde said.

"The ultras hiding in the forest started firing at the security personnel. The exchange of fire continued for about one-and-half hours. As per preliminary information, bodies of 16 Naxals were recovered from the forest," he said, adding that arms and Naxal literature were recovered from the spot.

"However, I could give the exact number (of deceased) only tomorrow," he told PTI.

Shinde said there are reports of injuries sustained by the security personnel.

On the identity of the ultras, he said, "There is a possibility of two 'DVC'-rank naxals Shrinu alias Shrikant and Sainath being killed in the operation."