Four Naxalites Killed in Encounter with Maharashtra Police in Gadchiroli
Security Forces Recover Weapons and Naxalite Literature
GADCHIROLI, MAHARASHTRA - Four Naxalites were killed in a fierce encounter with the Maharashtra police in the early hours of March 19, 2024, in the Kolamarka forest on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border.
The deceased Naxalites were identified as Vargesh, a member of the Mangi Indravelli area committee; Kumram Bheem, secretary of the Sirpur Chennur area committee; Raju Kursang; and Kuttimetta Vyankatesh.
According to police reports, they received intelligence on March 18th that a group of Naxalites had crossed the Pranahita river from neighboring Telangana and entered Gadchiroli. Acting on this information, teams from the C-60 commando unit and the CRPF's Quick Action Team (QAT) launched a search operation led by Additional SP Yatish Deshmukh of the Anti-Naxal Squad.
During the early hours of March 19th, the security forces engaged in a search operation in the Kolamarka mountains, approximately five kilometers from Repanpalli, when they came under heavy gunfire from the Naxalites. The security forces retaliated, leading to an encounter.
Following the exchange of fire, a search of the area resulted in the recovery of the bodies of the four Naxalites. Additionally, the security forces seized an AK-47 rifle, a carbine, two country-made pistols, Naxalite literature, and other materials from the encounter site.
The Maharashtra government reportedly announced a cash reward of Rs 36 lakh for the C-60 team involved in the encounter, which comes ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
