The Gadchiroli Police said that security forces received credible intelligence about the presence of Maoists near the recently opened foot overbridge at Kawande on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border. Based on this credible information, an operation led by Additional SP Ramesh and 12 C60 parties (about 300 commandoes) and a component of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was launched on Thursday noon from Kawande and Nelgunda in Gadchiroli district towards the banks of Indravati amid heavy rainfall in the area.

On Friday morning, the area was cordoned off and a search operation was launched at the river bank in Maharashtra. During this time, Maoists resorted to indiscriminate firing on the C60 commandoes, inviting an effective retaliation by the forces.