Three Maharashtra policemen, Maoist killed in Gadchiroli

At least three police personnel and a Maoist were killed in two separate gunfights in this rebel-affected Maharashtra district early Thursday, an official said.

Three police commandos were killed while on a combing operation in the Motha Zariya forests where the rebels triggered a landmine blast after midnight.

The commandos were identified as Satyawan Kasanwar and Ravikumar Suramwar from Gadchiroli and Ishant Ghure from Bhandara district, said an official of the Anti-Naxal Operations department.

In an another gun battle in the district's Etapally forest region Thursday, police killed a Maoist, the official said.

Security personnel have gunned down at least 24 Maoists since early this year during anti-insurgency operations in the district, 175 km from Nagpur.