Nagpur: Five Naxals killed in an encounter in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on Sunday. According to the SP of Gadchiroli, said that five naxals including four women were killed in an exchange of fire with police in Gadchiroli district.

The face-off took place at Kosmi-Kisneli forest around 4 pm, the Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) office said. “The C-60 commandos of the Gadchiroli police were conducting a combing operation in the forest area in Dhanora taluka, when Naxals opened fire,” according to a statement. “However, the Naxals soon fled from the spot after the police team launched a retaliatory attack,” it said.

Later during the search, bodies of five ultras were recovered from the spot. Their identity is yet to be established, it added. The police recovered five weapons including one Insas rifle from the spot along with the bodies of naxals; the exchange of five has lasted 45 minutes, said SP.