Police-Naxals clash on Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border; explosives, Maoist material found

An official reported on Thursday (August 17) that a collaborative effort between police in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district and neighboring Chhattisgarh led to the retrieval of explosives, Maoist literature, and related items. This was the outcome of a gunfire encounter with Naxalites along the border of the two states. The incident occurred on Wednesday, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Nilotpal said.

"The Gadchiroli police had received intelligence inputs on August 15 night about the presence of a Naxalite camp of Sandra LOS (local organisation squad) and other such formations in north of Bhopalpatnam in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district along the border of the two states," he said.

The information was immediately shared with the Bijapur SP. After discussions, a joint team headed by Additional SP of Aheri (in Gadchiroli) Satish Deshmukh with nine C-60 parties comprising around 200 commandos and also comprising of Bijapur Deputy SP and 70 District Reserve Guard (DRG) commandos was formed for the combing operation, he added.

C-60 is a specialised combat unit of the Gadchiroli police, while the DRG is a unit formed to combat Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh.

"While the joint team was combing the area late Wednesday, Naxalites opened indiscriminate firing on the police, who retaliated. After the exchange of fire ended, a search was carried out in the area in which detonators, gelatin sticks, large amount of Naxal literature, one mobile phone, four 'pitthus' (shoulder bags), tarpaulin sheets, and other items were seized," the official said.

After the operation, the joint team returned to its camp safely, he said.

"Process of registering an offence is underway at Bhopalpatnam in Bijapur," he said.

(With agency inputs)