12 Neutralised on Mah-C’garh border

 

 

 

 

 

Gadchiroli, IN the third biggest encounter between Gadchiroli Police and Maoists, as many as 12 Maoists were neutralised by the police and several automatic weapons were recovered from the encounter site on Wednesday. For the daredevil operation amid torrential rains, the C60 jawans crossed at least five flooded streams. In recognition of the bravery of the policemen, Maharashtra Government announced a cash reward of Rs 51 lakh to them. The encounter has inflicted a major damage upon the Maoists, and is being considered a severe jolt to the outlaws. According to information provided by the police, an operation was launched on Wednesday around 10 am from Gadchiroli. As credible intelligence was received about the location of 12-15 Maoists camping close to Wandoli village near Chhattisgarh border, seven C60 parties led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) were sent there.

 

The C60 parties reached the location braving the torrential rains after crossing five flooded streams in dense forest, said Neelotpal, Superintendent of Police, Gadchiroli. A heavy exchange of fire started in the afternoon and continued intermittently till late evening for more than six hours. An area search was conducted after the firing stopped. This led to recovery of bodies of 12 Maoists till filing of this report on Wednesday evening. Seven automatic weapons including three AK-47, two InSAS, one carbine, one SLR were recovered till late evening. DVCM Laxman alias Vishal Atram, In-charge of Tipagad Dalam, was identified as one of the Maoists killed in encounter. Further identification of Maoists and area search were still in progress when the news came. In the exchange of fire with Maoists, one Police Sub-Inspector of C60 Commando Force and one jawan suffered bullet injuries. They were evacuated and shifted to Nagpur, and were out of danger.

 

The anti-Maoist operations were intensified in the area. The encounter on Wednesday was the third biggest in Gadchiroli district in terms of number of Maoist casualties. In 2018, as many as 34 Maoists were neutralised in encounter in Boria Kasnasur. In 2021, total 27 Maoists including Milind Teltumbde, the Central Committee Member of CPI (Maoist) were killed in encounter near Mardintola. However, in terms of weapon profile seizure, the Wandoli encounter on Wednesday was the second best for the police after Mardintola. Recognising the bravery of C60 jawans, Maharashtra Government declared a cash reward of Rs 51 lakh to them for the said encounter.

 

Devendra Fadnavis, Home Minister of Maharahstra and Guardian Minister of the Gadchiroli district, made the announcement of reward for C60 commandoes and Gadchiroli Police for the successful major operation. The entire operation was conducted under the guidance of Neelotpal and other senior police authorities. Prominent high-profile dignitaries including Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, both Deputy Chief Ministers; Uday Samant, Industries Minister; Dharmaraobaba Atram, Food and Drugs Minister, were in the district on Wednesday for bhoomipujan of a Surjagad Ispat project near Aheri.