"anti-naxal-operation"

The gunfight broke out when a patrolling team of the DRG was cordoning off a forest near Hakwa village.

Assistant Commandant Nitin Bhalerao, 33, succumbed to injuries suffered in the blast in the early hours of Sunday and nine commandos, were injured.

The gunfight took place at around 5 am in Darbha forest under Kutru police station limits when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the District Force was out on an anti-Naxal operation.