13 Naxals killed in encounter with commandos in Maharashtra

At least 13 Naxals were killed in an encounter with police’s C-60 commandos in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra early on Friday, officials said.

The .gunfight took place around 5.30 am in the forest at Kotmi, where the Naxals had gathered for a meeting, Gadchiroli DIG Sandeep Patil said.

“Based on specific inputs, the police party, comprising C-60 commandos, had launched a search operation in the forest,” he said.

However, the ultras spotted the police party and opened fire, following which the C-60 commandos retaliated, in which 13 Naxals were killed, he said.

The encounter lasted around an hour, after which the remaining Naxals escaped into the dense forest, Gadchiroli SP Ankit Goyal said.

Bodies of the Naxals have been recovered from the spot and a search operation in the area is still on, he said.