Two Naxals killed in encounter with police in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli

Mumbai: In a coordinated intelligence-based operation, two dreaded Naxalites including one of those involved in killing of 15 police personnel in 2019, were killed in an encounter in Gadchiroli district along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border.

The operation was coordinated by Gadchiroli’s Superintendent of Police Neelotpal.

Among the two killed was Durgesh Watti, the deputy commander of Kasansur Dalam who was one of the main conspirators of Jambulkheda blast in which 15 police personnel of Gadchiroli Police were killed in 2019.

An AK 47 and SLR have been seized by the police.

After the receipt of information of presence of the outlawed Maoists, four C-60 commando squad and one CRPF squad were dispatched to the location immediately to do a search operation in the area near Godalwahi, the last outpost of the state.

“The Naxals fired on the police party. While some of them fled, two died in the encounter,” police said.

On May 1, 2019, 15 police personnel and a driver were killed after Maoists triggered an IED blast in the Kurkheda tehsil of Naxalite-infested Gadchiroli district. The attack took place when a Quick Response Team (QRT) - attached to the C-60 specialized commando unit - was moving in a private van between Jambhorkheda and Lendhari villages.