Gadchiroli Oct. 21 (District Correspondent) As many as 5 naxalites were killed in an encounter that took place between the police and the Naxalites in Koparshi forest in Bhamragarh taluka, the border of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh this morning.
A police jawan also is reported to have received minor injuries in the encounter.
After receiving reliable information from confidential sources that some Maoists are preparing to come together and form a conspiracy for the purpose of doing destructive activities in the district in accordance with the upcoming Assembly general elections and they are hiding in Koparshi forest area in Bhamragarh taluka.
Under the guidance of seniors, Additional Superintendent of Police (Operation) Mr. Yatish Deshmukh and Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) Mr. M. Ramesh, 22 units of C-60 squad and 2 units of QAT (Quick Action Team) of CRPF were dispatched to carry out anti-Maoist operation at two different places in Koparshi forest area.
As soon as the police parties reached the forest area, the Maoists started firing indiscriminately towards them. The police team appealed to the Maoists to drop their weapons and surrender, but the Maoists continued to fire indiscriminately at the police team without surrendering.
While responding to the said firing, the police team had to fire at two different places. In this operation, the Gadchiroli police force succeeded in killing 5 Maoists. The bodies of all the 5 naxals have been recovered by the police. A search operation is underway in the said forest area and the process of identifying the dead Maoists is underway. More detailed are awaited, said the police. Some arms used by the naxals also have been recovered by the police from the spot of the firing.
This is considered to be the major encounter between the police and the Maoists in the recent past in which 5 outlaws have been killed. The Naxalites might have assembled to carry out some major violent activity on the eve of the Assembly elections, but their designs were failed due to timely action of the police.
The Koparshi-Kothi forest area is very sensitive for the naxal activities. Being the election time, many political leaders have been moving in the area for their campaigning. The incident has spread quite a sensation among the political workers and the comman people as well.
