This story is from October 19, 2020

Five Maoists gunned down in fierce gun battle in Gadchiroli

An attack by the elite C-60 commandos of Gadchiroli district police on Sunday neutralized five Maoist cadres, including four women, in the dense forest of Kosmi-Kisneli in Dhanora taluka. The security force also recovered substantial material, including arms and ammunition.
Five Maoists gunned down in fierce gun battle in Gadchiroli
NAGPUR: An attack by the elite C-60 commandos of Gadchiroli district police on Sunday neutralized five Maoist cadres, including four women, in the dense forest of Kosmi-Kisneli in Dhanora taluka. The security force also recovered substantial material, including arms and ammunition.
The security forces had zeroed down on the encounter spot, considered as ‘halting point’ for the Maoists, following an input.
Sources said Tippagarh Local Organizational Squad (LOS) and Platoon 15 were present at the place when they were surrounded by the commandos. The gun battle lasted for around 45 minutes following which the Maoists started retreating.
The bodies of five Maoists, their pittoos (rucksucks), one Insas rifle and two other firearms were recovered from the encounter site.
Apart from Tipagarh dalam, Korchi dalam too was present at the site.
The deceased have been identified as Rajo Kirko, 34, (platoon 15), Kumli Gawade (23) (Korchi dalam member), Zunki Pada (32) (Tipagarh dalam Area committee member) and Shivaji Madavi (30) (Tipagarh dalam member). Another one is yet to be identified.
SP Ankit Goyal said the Maoists opened fired on the commandos following which the forces retaliated. “It’s a substantial setback for the Maoist movement as Platoon 15 and Tippagarh LOS were already depleted. With the latest casualties, it would be a further blow to them,” he said. “Our searches are still going on and more recoveries are likely,” said Goyal.

The operation was led by Additional SP Manish Kalwaniya and SDPO Bhausaheb Dhole under the supervision of Goya and DIG, Naxal range, Sandeep Patil.
It’s learnt five squads of C-60 commandos were pressed into action in the northern part of the district where Maoists were spotted in last couple of weeks. District police had already started searches in the deep forests after Maoists tried to fly drones near police stations at many places in the southern part.
While three squads were deployed to plug the escape routes, two had ventured deep into the forest to strike at the camping Maoists, who had stopped at the place as usual for refreshments.
When firing started from both sides, Maoists tried to flee from their known escape routes, where commandos had already positioned themselves.
With the latest strike on the Maoists, the rebel movement in the north of the tribal district has received a decisive blow. In the past, Platoon 3 had to merge with the last few members of the Chatgaon dalam after most of their cadres surrendered with former divisional committee member Deepak Kolha. Platoon 15 too had to be merged with Tippagarh LOS after many cadres either surrendered or were arrested.
In the last two years, more than 15 Maoists have been killed in Gadchiroli while 45 surrendered and 53 were arrested.
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