At least 26 Maoists killed in encounter with police in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli

NEW DELHI: At least 26 Maoists were gunned down on Saturday during an encounter with police in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, PTI reported quoting senior officials.
The encounter, which began in the Kotgul-Gyarapatti forest in the early hours of Saturday, was carried out by C-60 commandos of the police and lasted till late in the evening.
"We have recovered the bodies of 26 Maoists so far from the forest," said district Superintendent of Police Ankit Goyal.
While the police are yet to confirm the identity of the slain Maoists, sources said that a top rebel leader is among those killed in the gunfight.

Four police personnel were also seriously injured in the action and were taken to Nagpur by a helicopter for treatment, officials had said earlier.
Sources had earlier told TOI that security forces recovered weapons and other materials from the spot of the encounter.
A massive combing operation is under way to detect more bodies of the extremists.
The Maoists were trying to flee with the bodies of their slain cadres.
(With inputs from agencies)