At least 26 armed rebels, known as Naxals, were killed, in an encounter with the Indian security forces, in the south-western Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, yesterday, local media reported.
Four security personnel were also injured in the gunfight, that took place in the Mardintola forest area.
“So far, bodies of 26 Naxals have been recovered from the forest,” media reports quoted a top police official as saying.
According to a report by India Today, the gun battle took place at Korchi, in the Mardintola forest area, when a C-60 police commando team was conducting a search operation.
The report said that, while the identity of the slain Naxals was yet to be ascertained, a top rebel leader was suspected to be among them.
Currently, Naxals are active across the central and eastern parts of India.
New Delhi has deployed several companies of its paramilitary forces, to take on Naxals in their strongholds.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK