Senior Naxal leader, two others killed in encounter: police

A senior Naxal leader, his wife and another woman rebel were killed in an alleged encounter with police in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra today.

The encounter took place in Sirkonda forest of Sironcha tehsil this morning, said a police release here.

A team of C-60 commandos, the special anti-Naxal unit of Gadchiroli police, was conducting a combing operation when the Naxals opened fire on them, it said.

After a brief gun-battle, the rebels fled, leaving behind bodies of three Naxals, police claimed.

Two of the slain Naxals were identified as Sunil alias Vilas Mara Kulmethe (39), 'a divisional commander' who carried a reward of Rs 16 lakh on his head, and his wife Swarupa alias Aamsi Pocha Talandi.

The third Naxal, a woman, wasn't identified, police said.

Kulmethe was involved in the Naxal movement since 2001 and had 39 serious cases registered against him, while his wife was involved in Naxal activities since 2003 and was carrying a reward of Rs 6 lakh on her head, police said.

Two rifles and some Naxal literature were recovered from the spot.

Seven Naxals have been killed in encounters with police in Gadchiroli district -- which borders on Chhattisgarh -- this year so far, according to the police release.