Gadchiroli, August 27 – Security forces shot dead four Naxals in an encounter near the Maharashtra–Chhattisgarh border on Tuesday morning, police officials confirmed. The exchange of fire took place in the forested areas of Gadchiroli district, a region that has witnessed repeated clashes between security personnel and Left-wing extremists.

According to officials, a joint team of the Maharashtra Police’s C-60 commando unit and local security forces was conducting an anti-Naxal operation when they came under heavy fire from armed cadres hiding in the forest. The security personnel retaliated, leading to a gun battle that lasted for over an hour. Four Naxals were killed in the encounter, while others reportedly managed to escape into the dense forest.

Weapons, ammunition, and Naxal literature were recovered from the site. Identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed, though police sources said they may include members of a local Naxal unit active in the region.

Gadchiroli, which shares its boundary with Chhattisgarh, has been a hotspot of Naxal activities for decades due to its difficult terrain and thick forest cover. Security agencies have stepped up operations in the area in recent months, targeting hideouts and supply routes of the insurgents.

Authorities said search operations are continuing to track down other members of the group. Additional forces have been deployed in the region to prevent further movement of Naxal cadres.