Two more Naxalites were killed during an ongoing anti-Naxal operation in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, while a C-60 commando who had been critically injured earlier in the encounter succumbed to his injuries, police officials said on Friday. With the latest development, the total number of Naxalites neutralised in the operation has increased to three. The multi-day operation began on Tuesday and is being carried out near Phodewada village along the Gadchiroli–Narayanpur border with Chhattisgarh. Police said the action was launched after receiving specific intelligence inputs about the presence of Maoist cadres belonging to company number 10 in the area.

Initially, 14 units of the elite C-60 force under the supervision of SDPO Bhamragad were deployed. During the course of the operation, security forces detected and dismantled two Naxalite camps on Wednesday. In view of the evolving situation, additional reinforcements were rushed to the area on Thursday morning, including four more C-60 units and a QAT unit of the Central Reserve Police Force.

Police said that on Thursday, the body of one Naxalite was recovered along with weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and a self-loading rifle. Subsequently, two more bodies, one of them that of a woman, were found, taking the total number of Naxalites killed so far to three. The identities of all the slain cadres are yet to be confirmed. C-60 jawan Deepak Chinna Madavi (38), who was earlier airlifted to Bhamragad after sustaining injuries in the encounter, died during treatment. Another injured jawan, Joga Madavi, was also airlifted and is reported to be out of danger. Police said the operation remains underway.