Four naxals killed in encounter in Gadchiroli

Nagpur, Nov 26 (UNI) Four naxalites were killed today in an encounter with the police in the Mahalghat forest of Gadchiroli district.

The encounter took place this morning during a joint combing operation carried out with the Gondia police. The police had received a specific information that about 50 to 60 naxalites were camping in the jungle on the border between the two districts, Superintendent of Police Shirish Jain told UNI on telephone.

The naxals apparently got wind of the operation and fled into the forest. The encounter occurred with an 'advance party' of the group of naxals, who allegedly opened fire on the police team, he added.

The police team later recovered the bodies of four naxals from the spot. Three policemen also sustained minor injuries in the exchange of fire, Mr Jain said, adding that the team had also recovered a huge quantity of arms, explosives, detonators and wires from the spot.

Gadchiroli police had alerted their counterparts in Gondia district and neighbouring Chhattisgarh as the naxalites could have fled into these areas, the SP said, adding that the combing operation was still underway.

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