Police have also intensified combing operations to thwart any attempts by Maoists to sneak into Telangana from Maharashtra by crossing the Pranahita river
Several senior cadres, including Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) member and east Bastar in-charge Niti alias Urmila carrying a bounty of 25 lakh, were eliminated in a single anti-naxal operation.
As a result, the total number of Naxalites killed in the gun battle with security personnel on Friday has increased to 31. Authorities have confirmed that a search operation is still ongoing in the area.
Police said that a joint police party of Narayanpur-Dantewada district went on a search operation on receiving information about the presence of Maoists in the area.
The heavy exchange of fire broke out in the afternoon between C60 commandos and Naxals in Wandoli village and continued for six hours, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Nilotpal said.
The demand had escalated after the brutal killing of Chandrugonda Forest Range Officer Ch Srinivas Rao by Gutti Koya tribals in Kothagudem in November 2022.
This operation is so far the biggest attack by security forces on People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) company no. 6, which is considered a pillar of the attacking force of Naxalites, the police said
While five Naxalites were arrested from Mandem-Kuprel villages under Farsegarh police station area, four others were held from Madded police station limits.
Commission of Police, M Srinivasulu along with Mancherial DCP Ashok Kumar, special branch ACP Raghavendra Rao and others released the posters at the commissionerate office, Godavarikhani on Monday.