A major operation by Gadchiroli police C60 commandos on the Chhattisgarh-Gadchiroli border near Maharashtra’s Kanker resulted in the deaths of 12 Naxals. The encounter, which began around 10 am on Wednesday, involved seven C60 parties led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations). It was based on credible intelligence regarding the presence of 12-15 Naxals camping in the area.
The clash occurred between 1:30 pm and 2:00 pm, with heavy exchange of fire continuing intermittently for over six hours. During the area search, security forces recovered 12 bodies of Naxals, including DVCM Laxman Atram, also known as Vishal Atram, the in-charge of the Tipagad Dalam. The operation yielded a significant haul of weapons, including seven automatic firearms: three AK-47 rifles, two INSAS rifles, one carbine, and one self-loading rifle (SLR).
Sub-Inspector Satish Patil was shot in the left shoulder during the encounter, but he and another injured jawan are out of danger. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a reward of ₹ 51 lakh for the Gadchiroli Police on behalf of the state government, stating that the operation was still ongoing but the police were in a dominating position.
The encounter happened on the same day Fadnavis performed the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ for the Surjagad Ispat Pvt Ltd steel project in Gadchiroli. Maharashtra Minister Dharmarao Baba Atram donated 125 acres of land for the integrated steel plant, which is expected to generate employment opportunities for the local population. The project, with an investment of ₹ 10,000 crore, is aimed at creating 8000-10000 jobs and producing 8 million tonnes of steel annually. Fadnavis highlighted the project’s potential to benefit the local people and tribals in the Naxal-affected district.
Gadchiroli, known for its large reserves of iron ore, has been a hotbed of Naxal activity for decades. The district has witnessed several encounters between security forces and Naxals in recent years, underscoring the ongoing challenge posed by the Maoist insurgency in the region.
