Mumbai: At least 26 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with police in eastern Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, over 900 km from Mumbai on Saturday. According to Maharashtra Police, gunbattle took place in the morning at Korchi in Mardintola forest area.
The district lies on the border of Chhattisgarh.
The cross-firing started when a C-60 police commando team was conducting a search operation led by additional SP Soumya Munde, district Superintendent of Police Ankit Goyal told news agency PTI.
While the identity of the slain Naxals was yet to be ascertained, sources close to news agency PTI told that a top rebel leader was suspected to be among them.
Four police personnel were also seriously injured in the action and were taken to Nagpur by a helicopter for treatment, officials had said earlier.
(This is a developing story. More details awaited.)