A fierce encounter between the Maoists and the Gadchiroli Police and CRPF took place in the dense forests near Kawande village under the Bhamragad sub-division at the Maharashtra–Chhattisgarh border, police said
After the encounter, the police recovered the bodies of four Maoists – two men and two women – along with four weapons. Pic/Gadchiroli Police
A top Maoist commander was among four killed in a police encounter in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, police officials said on Friday.
It said that a fierce encounter between the Maoists and the Gadchiroli Police and CRPF took place in the dense forests near Kawande village under the Bhamragad sub-division at the Maharashtra–Chhattisgarh border.
According to the police, acting on reliable intelligence inputs, a joint team of the C-60 Commando Unit and the 113 Battalion CRPF was dispatched to the area on 22 May 2025.
"Despite harsh weather and tough forest terrain, the team continued their search for nearly 36 hours," police officials said.
Explaining the encounter, police said that on the morning of May 23 at around 7 am, Maoists hiding in the jungle opened fire on the security forces. Despite warnings from the police asking them to surrender, the Maoists continued firing. In self-defence, the police retaliated, leading to a gunfight that lasted nearly two hours.
After the encounter, the police recovered the bodies of four Maoists – two men and two women – along with four weapons, including an SLR, two .303 rifles, and one country-made firearm. Police also seized walkie-talkies, Maoist literature, and daily use items from the site, it said.
The Maoists gunned down in the encounter were later identified as Sannu Masa Pungati, 35, Commander of Bhamragad Dalam, having a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head. He was allegedly involved in murder, and other crimes.
Others killed in the encounter were identified as Ashok alias Suresh Poriya Wadde, 38, having a reward of Rs 2 lakh on him. He was involved in as many as 17 crimes, including 5 murders and 6 encounters, Vijyo alias Vijyo Hoyami, 25, also having a reward of Rs 2 lakh on him. He was linked to 12 crimes, including 5 murders and Karuna alias Mamita alias Tuni Pandu Warse, 21, who had a reward of Rs 2 lakh and had been involved in 9 crimes, including 2 murders, police said.
The joint anti-Maoist operation was led by Additional Superintendent of Police (Admin) M. Ramesh, under the guidance of top officials including Dr. Chering Dorje (ADGP, Special Operations), Sandeep Patil (IG, Anti-Naxal Operations), and Superintendent of Police Neelotpal.
Since 2021, Gadchiroli Police has eliminated 87 hardcore Maoists, arrested 124, and facilitated the surrender of 63 others. SP Neelotpal praised the bravery of the C-60 commandos and CRPF jawans, and urged remaining Maoists to surrender and reintegrate into society.
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