Nagpur, Jan 20 (IANS): Maharashtra Police Sunday killed six Maoists in a shootout in a forested area in Gadchiroli district, an official said.

Gadchiroli Deputy Inspector General Ravindra Kadam said that following a tip-off, the security forces had gone to a place near Govindgaon village, 200 km from here around midnight.

Shortly afterwards, a gun-battle ensued between the security forces and the Maoists in which six, including a woman cadre were gunned down, Kadam told IANS.

There were no injuries to the security forces which engaged in the operation, he added.

The Maoists have been identified as Geeta, Shankar, Zuru, Mohan, Vinod, and another male whose identity has not yet been established.

"They belonged to the Aheri local operating squad and were planning a strike in the region. We have recovered two SLRs and two .303 guns from them," Kadam told IANS.

The bodies of the Maoists have been brought to Aheri police headquarters in the district even as further combing operations are underway.

Gadchiroli is the worst Maoist-infested district in eastern Maharashtra, around 175 km south of Nagpur bordering Andhra Pradesh.