Daijiworld Media Network - Gadchiroli

Gadchiroli, Feb 6: Seven Naxalites, including top Maoist leader Prabhakar, were killed in encounters with police in eastern Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, while a C-60 jawan lost his life after succumbing to bullet injuries sustained during the operation, officials said.

The anti-Naxal operation has been underway in the district for the past three days following intelligence inputs about the movement of surviving cadres of Company No. 10 along with an unidentified Maoist formation that had entered the area from neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

Prabhakar, also known as Loketi Chandar Rao, a native of Kamareddy district in Telangana, was in charge of the Maoists’ Gadchiroli Divisional Committee, the West Sub-Zonal Bureau and Company No. 10. He carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head, officials said.

Fourteen units of the elite C-60 anti-Naxal force of Gadchiroli Police launched the operation near Phodewada village along the Narayanpur–Gadchiroli border. During the exchange of fire, the bodies of three Maoists were recovered on Thursday night, while four more bodies were retrieved from the forest area on Friday.

Police said the bodies of all seven slain Maoists were recovered along with three AK-47 rifles, one self-loading rifle and one .303 rifle. Apart from Prabhakar, the identities of the other Maoists are yet to be ascertained.

C-60 jawan Deepak Chinna Madavi, a resident of Mandra village in Aheri tehsil, neutralised two Maoists during a fierce gunfight on Thursday evening but suffered serious bullet injuries. He was airlifted to a hospital in Bhamragad, where he later succumbed.
Madavi will be cremated at his native village with full honours, officials said.

Another C-60 jawan, Joga Madavi, a resident of Kishtyapalli village, also sustained bullet injuries during the operation. He was airlifted to Gadchiroli and is currently undergoing treatment. His condition is stated to be stable.