Gadchiroli police and the C-60 commando unit busted camps of the CPI (Maoist) cadres during the fierce gun-battle. (Representative image)
Credit: PTI File Photo
Mumbai: In a major operation, seven Naxalites including top Maoist leader Prabhakar - who carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head - were killed in Abujhmarh jungles of Bhamragad tehsil in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district.
This is a major operation towards making Gadchiroli Naxal-free, in which a commando of the C-60 commando unit of Gadchiroli police laid down his life.
Prabhakar was the in-charge of the Gadchiroli Division Committee, in-charge of West Sub-Zonal Bureau and head of Company No 7 of CPI (Maoist).
He, who was a resident of Kamareddy in Telangana, was neutralised in an exchange of fire with the Gadchiroli police, reports reaching said.
A total of seven Maoists cadres and commanders were neutralised in encounter which started on Tuesday evening.
The seven include four males and seven females. Identification of remaining Maoists are yet to be established.
Gadchiroli police and the C-60 commando unit busted camps of the CPI (Maoist) cadres during the fierce gun-battle.
The incident took place in Phodewada village on the Gadchiroli-Narayanpur border in the Bhamragad tehsil following specific intelligence.
The C-60 unit of Gadchiroli police and a unit of QAT of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are involved in the ongoing operation.
The police constable, Deepak Chhina Madavi (38) was attached to the Special Operation Team Pranahita who is originally from Mandara, Damrancha in Aheri tehsil.
“He was injured during the encounter in Abujmad. This morning, he was airlifted by helicopter from the dense forest at Abujhmad to the Sub-District Hospital in Bhamragad. However, unfortunately, due to the injuries sustained during the operation, he has attained martyrdom in the service of the nation,” the Gadchiroli district said.
One more jawan, Joga Madavi, received bullet injuries; however, he is out of danger.
The identify of the three Naxals who were gunned down have not yet been revealed. Police have seized one AK-47 rifle and two SLRs from the spot.
More details are awaited.