Gadchiroli Police Neutralize Twelve Hardcore Maoists in Major Operation
Gadchiroli, July 18, 2024 – In a significant operation, the Gadchiroli Police successfully neutralized twelve hardcore Maoists during an intense encounter. This operation thwarted an attempt by the Maoists to carry out subversive activities ahead of the upcoming Naxal Week, scheduled from July 28 to August 3.
The neutralized Maoists included three Senior Cadres of the rank of Divisional Committee Member (DVCM), five Area Committee Members (ACM), and four Dalam members. The Maharashtra Government had announced a total cash reward of Rs. 86 lakhs for these individuals. The police recovered eleven weapons from the encounter site, including seven automatic firearms.
This successful operation has eradicated the entire Korchi-Tipagad and Chatgaon-Kasansur Local Operating Squads (LOS), effectively clearing North Gadchiroli of armed Maoist formations.
Acting on credible information received yesterday morning, seven units of the anti-Maoist C-60 squad, led by DySP (Operations) Vishal Nagargoje, were dispatched to the forest area near the Chhattisgarh border in Wandoli village. During the search operation, the Maoists, numbering 12 to 15, fired indiscriminately at the police teams. The C-60 teams retaliated strongly, causing the Maoists to flee into the dense forest.
The encounter resulted in the deaths of seven male and five female Maoists. The deceased have been identified as follows:
- Yogesh Duvsingh Tulavi – DVCM/PC of Chatgaon-Kasansur Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 16 lakhs)
- Vishal Kulle Atram – DVCM/IC of Korchi-Tipagad Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 16 lakhs)
- Pramod Lalsay Kachlami – ACM Deputy Commander of Korchi-Tipagad Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 6 lakhs)
- Maharu Dhobi Grwade – ACM Deputy Commander of Chatgaon-Kasansur Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 6 lakhs)
- Anil Devaay Dano – ACM Deputy Commander of Korchi-Tipagad Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 6 lakhs)
- Vijju – ACM of Chatgaon-Kasansur Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 6 lakhs)
- Sarita Jara Parsa – ACM of Chatgaon-Kasansur Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 6 lakhs)
- Rajjo Mangalsingh Gawade – ACM of Chatgaon-Kasansur Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 6 lakhs)
- Roja – PM of Chatgaon-Kasansur Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 2 lakhs)
- Sagat – PM of Chatgaon-Kasansur Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 2 lakhs)
- Chanda Podyam – PM of Korchi-Tipagad Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 2 lakhs)
- Sita Hawke – PM of Korchi-Tipagad Joint LOS (Reward: Rs. 2 lakhs)
The police also recovered a cache of firearms, Maoist literature, explosives, detonators, and other belongings from the encounter site. During the exchange of fire, PSI Satish Patil and two C-60 personnel, HC Shankar Potavi and PC Vivek Shingole, sustained bullet injuries. They were evacuated by helicopter and are currently undergoing treatment in Nagpur.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Special IG ANO Shri Sandip Patil, DIG Gadchiroli Range Shri Ankit Goyal, SP Gadchiroli Shri Neelotpal, Addl SP (Operations) Shri Yatish Deshmukh, Addl SP (Administration) Shri Kumar Chintha, and Addl SP Aberi Shri M. Ramesh. DySP (Operations) Vishal Nagargoje and the C-60 personnel led the operation.
In the past three years, Gadchiroli Police have neutralized 80 hardcore Maoists, arrested 102, and facilitated the surrender of 29 Maoists. This operation marks a significant achievement in clearing the region of Naxal influence. DIG Gadchiroli Range Shri Ankit Goyal and SP Gadchiroli Shri Neelotpal commended the C-60 teams for their exceptional performance and urged remaining Maoists to surrender and join the mainstream of development.
