Police seize ammunition after encounter with naxals in Gadchiroli

Nagpur, Jan 31 (UNI) The police today seized ammunition left behind by naxalites after a brief encounter at Gadchiroli in Maharashtra.

Gadchiroli district superintendent of police (SP) Shirish Jain told UNI the seized ammunition includes four live hand grenades, four safety levers, one striker and one bus-plug. Three of the four hand grenades have been destroyed.

''The encounter occurred in the forests near village Halbara in Etapali tehsil of the district late last night when a police party engaged in combing operations were attacked by a group of 50 to 60 naxalites, belonging to the Platoon Dalam. They lobbed two hand grenades at the police party and opened fire. In retaliation the police returned the fire and the encounter lasted for about twenty minutes. The outlaws later fled from the spot,'' he disclosed.

A search conducted on the spot today led to the recovery of the ammunition left behind by the naxalites, Jain added.

UNI