08 February,2024 02:29 PM IST | Gadchiroli | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. Pic/AFP
Following an encounter with Naxalites, police in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district seized explosive materials, detonators, and other items, according to an official on Thursday.
According to a report in PTI, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Nilotpal stated that they received intelligence on Wednesday evening about armed Naxal cadres camping near Hiddur hamlet, 7 km east of Wangeturi on the Kanker-Narayanpur-Gadchiroli trijunction. The Naxalites planned to conduct reconnaissance of newly built police outposts for subversive purposes.
A team from the Gadchiroli police's C-60 unit, a specialised combat unit, was dispatched to conduct an area search. Around 7 pm, Naxalites opened fire on the team about 500 yards from Hiddur village. In response, the police fired, forcing the Naxalites to flee into the dense jungle under cover of darkness, the PTI report added.
The report further stated that during a subsequent examination of the area, police discovered explosive supplies, detonators, wire bundles, an IED battery, hooks for claymore mines, solar panels, Naxal literature, and 'pitthus' bags.
The anti-Naxal operation is still operating in the area, the report added.
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Meanwhile, news agency ANI, cited the statement issued by Gadchiroli Police which read, "Based on credible intelligence of armed Naxal cadres camping at Hiddur Village 7km east of Wangeturi on the Kanker-Narayanpur-Gadchiroli Trijunction, to do recce of newly opened outposts Wangeturi and Gardewada to carry out subversive activities, Gadchiroli Police went on an area search operation where they were subjected to intense firing from the naxals."
The statement, per ANI, further read, "On retaliation by the police, the Naxals managed to escape taking advantage of dense forest and darkness. During the search operation that followed, pitthus, explosive materials, wire bundles, IED batteries, detonators, hooks for claymore mines, solar panels and naxal literature were seized."
Last year, Naxalites had set ablaze an earth-moving machine and a tanker engaged in road construction work in the area, the cops had said.
With agency inputs
