2 women Naxalites killed in encounter in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli

Two women Naxalites were killed in an encounter with police in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on Wednesday, officials said.

A credible input was received in the morning that a few members of Gatta LOS (local organisation squad) of Maoists were camping in a forest adjoining Modaske village in Etapalli taluka, a senior police official said.

An operation was immediately launched from Aheri by the police, along with five units of C-60, a specialised anti-Naxal commando squad of the Gadchiroli police, he said.

The CRPF assisted the operations team in laying the outer cordon.

When the C-60 contingent was searching the forest area, they were fired indiscriminately by Maoists, to which the police retaliated, the official said.

Later, during a search, the bodies of two women Naxalites were recovered, the official said.

An automatic AK-47 rifle, a sophisticated pistol, live ammunition, a large amount of Naxal literature and their belongings were also seized, he said.

The anti-Naxal operation was continuing in the area, the police added.