New Delhi: A woman Maoist rebel was killed in a gun battle between security forces and the red rebels in Kapewancha forests in Maharashtra’s Aheri subdivision, police said.
According to a top official, acting on a tip-off that 30-40 cadres of proscribed CPI (Maoist) from the Aheri and Permili groups were planning to carry out attacks in the area, security forces launched anti-Maoist operations late on Wednesday evening.
“The crack commandos of the C-60 squad were carrying out searches in the forest when the hidden extremists suddenly opened fire at them,” said the official.
“The C-60 commandos appealed to the Maoists to stop the firing and surrender, but they did not and continued shooting. The C-60 commandos retaliated with vigour in self-defense,” he added.
The Maoists took advantage of the thick forest cover and fled the scene.
After the encounter ended, security forces carried out a combing operation in the region and found the body of a woman Maoist, clad in a dark green uniform, whose identity is being ascertained.
Police recovered an 8 mm rifle, ammunition and daily essential items from the spot.