Police exchange fire with naxalites in Gadchiroli

Nagpur, Nov 24 (UNI) The police exchanged fire with a group of armed Naxalites in Gadchiroli district in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra today.

According to the police, the encounter occurred when two squads were carrying out a combing operation in the forests near village Paletola in Etapalli tehsil of the district early this morning.

A group of about 30 to 35 armed Naxalites opened fire on the squads, which was returned, a police press release said.

The exchange lasted for 15 to 20 minutes, after which the outlaws fled from the spot. The police, later, seized two live grenades, two Claymore mines, one landmine, a detonator, 350 feet of electric wire and five bags besides, some Naxalite literature and a bag containing medicines and Naxalite uniforms from the spot, the press note said.

It appears from blood stains on the spot that two or three Naxalites might have sustained serious injuries in the encounter, it added.

UNI