<p>In a major intelligence-based operation, at least 26 outlawed Naxals, including a top commander were killed on Saturday during an encounter in Dhanora tehsil in the Gadchiroli district of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.</p>.<p>"Today's operation is very important and historic. In the operation, 26 Naxalites have been killed," Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil said, congratulating the police force for the success.</p>.<p>Gadchiroli’s superintendent of police Ankit Goyal confirmed the development.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/naxals-kill-two-villagers-in-madhya-pradeshs-balaghat-on-suspicion-of-being-police-informers-1050289.html" target="_blank">Naxals kill two villagers in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat on suspicion of being police informers</a></strong></p>.<p>"As many as 25 to 26 bodies of Naxals have been recovered," Goyal told <em>DH</em> over phone from Gadchiroli.</p>.<p>He added that the encounter started in the wee hours in the remote Gyarapatti jungle.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, some reports said that among those killed include <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/naxal-leader-milind-teltumbde-wanted-by-nia-in-elgar-parishad-case-899964.html" target="_blank">Milind Teltumbde, a most-wanted Maoist and an absconder in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case</a>.</p>.<p>However, Goyal said: "The bodies are being identified...we will have to wait for a few more hours before we can give further details.....nothing can be confirmed or denied at this stage."</p>.<p>The encounter is still on and more details are awaited, an official of the Gadchiroli police told <em>DH</em> over phone.</p>.<p>A huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the place of encounter.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/7-naxals-killed-3-held-in-3-years-in-mp-cm-chouhan-at-meeting-chaired-by-amit-shah-1034617.html" target="_blank">7 Naxals killed, 3 held in 3 years in MP: CM Chouhan at meeting chaired by Amit Shah</a></strong></p>.<p>The massive gunfight involved a dalam of the CPI (Maoist) and the C-60 unit of the Anti-Naxalite Operations of Maharashtra Police and units of the Central Reserve Police Force.</p>.<p>At least three police personnel were injured and have been shifted to Nagpur by helicopter. Their condition has been described as stable.</p>.<p>A top commander who carries a reward of several lakhs seems to be among those killed. However, there is no official confirmation yet.</p>.<p>"The bodies are being identified," police officials said.</p>.<p>"There are indications that the numbers could go up. Besides, the casualties can be high given the fact that Naxalities generally take away the bodies," intelligence officials said.</p>.<p>Massive combing operations in the Naxalite-infested areas of Gadchiroli have been launched to track down the fleeing outlaws.</p>.<p>Walse-Patil congratulated Goyal and additional superintendent of police Somay Munde.</p>.<p>This is the fifth big encounter in recent times in Gadchiroli.</p>.<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/focus-on-naxalism-for-one-year-for-permanent-solution-shah-1034422.html" target="_blank">Focus on Naxalism for one year for permanent solution: Shah</a></strong></p>.<p>On May 21, 13 outlawed Naxalites were killed in a pre-dawn encounter with police and security forces at Paydi-Kotmi jungles in Etapalli sub-division of Gadchiroli district</p>.<p>On October 11, five Naxals were killed during an encounter at Kosmi-Kisneli jungles of Dhanora located along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border.</p>.<p>On March 3-4, 2020, in a successful Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) against the Naxalites along the Gadchiroli border, an arms manufacturing unit was busted.</p>.<p>Between April 22 and 23, 2018 more than 40 Maoists including four commanders were killed in the twin encounters in Gadchiroli district by a team of Anti-Naxalite Operations of Maharashtra police and 9th Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>In a major intelligence-based operation, at least 26 outlawed Naxals, including a top commander were killed on Saturday during an encounter in Dhanora tehsil in the Gadchiroli district of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.</p>.<p>"Today's operation is very important and historic. In the operation, 26 Naxalites have been killed," Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil said, congratulating the police force for the success.</p>.<p>Gadchiroli’s superintendent of police Ankit Goyal confirmed the development.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/naxals-kill-two-villagers-in-madhya-pradeshs-balaghat-on-suspicion-of-being-police-informers-1050289.html" target="_blank">Naxals kill two villagers in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat on suspicion of being police informers</a></strong></p>.<p>"As many as 25 to 26 bodies of Naxals have been recovered," Goyal told <em>DH</em> over phone from Gadchiroli.</p>.<p>He added that the encounter started in the wee hours in the remote Gyarapatti jungle.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, some reports said that among those killed include <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/naxal-leader-milind-teltumbde-wanted-by-nia-in-elgar-parishad-case-899964.html" target="_blank">Milind Teltumbde, a most-wanted Maoist and an absconder in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case</a>.</p>.<p>However, Goyal said: "The bodies are being identified...we will have to wait for a few more hours before we can give further details.....nothing can be confirmed or denied at this stage."</p>.<p>The encounter is still on and more details are awaited, an official of the Gadchiroli police told <em>DH</em> over phone.</p>.<p>A huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the place of encounter.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/7-naxals-killed-3-held-in-3-years-in-mp-cm-chouhan-at-meeting-chaired-by-amit-shah-1034617.html" target="_blank">7 Naxals killed, 3 held in 3 years in MP: CM Chouhan at meeting chaired by Amit Shah</a></strong></p>.<p>The massive gunfight involved a dalam of the CPI (Maoist) and the C-60 unit of the Anti-Naxalite Operations of Maharashtra Police and units of the Central Reserve Police Force.</p>.<p>At least three police personnel were injured and have been shifted to Nagpur by helicopter. Their condition has been described as stable.</p>.<p>A top commander who carries a reward of several lakhs seems to be among those killed. However, there is no official confirmation yet.</p>.<p>"The bodies are being identified," police officials said.</p>.<p>"There are indications that the numbers could go up. Besides, the casualties can be high given the fact that Naxalities generally take away the bodies," intelligence officials said.</p>.<p>Massive combing operations in the Naxalite-infested areas of Gadchiroli have been launched to track down the fleeing outlaws.</p>.<p>Walse-Patil congratulated Goyal and additional superintendent of police Somay Munde.</p>.<p>This is the fifth big encounter in recent times in Gadchiroli.</p>.<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/focus-on-naxalism-for-one-year-for-permanent-solution-shah-1034422.html" target="_blank">Focus on Naxalism for one year for permanent solution: Shah</a></strong></p>.<p>On May 21, 13 outlawed Naxalites were killed in a pre-dawn encounter with police and security forces at Paydi-Kotmi jungles in Etapalli sub-division of Gadchiroli district</p>.<p>On October 11, five Naxals were killed during an encounter at Kosmi-Kisneli jungles of Dhanora located along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border.</p>.<p>On March 3-4, 2020, in a successful Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) against the Naxalites along the Gadchiroli border, an arms manufacturing unit was busted.</p>.<p>Between April 22 and 23, 2018 more than 40 Maoists including four commanders were killed in the twin encounters in Gadchiroli district by a team of Anti-Naxalite Operations of Maharashtra police and 9th Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>