The Gadchiroli police arrested four hardcore, most wanted Maoists, including a woman, in the wee hours of Thursday in Nelgunda village. They had gone to the village in plain clothes when the cops nabbed them after chasing them for around 30-minutes in dense forest area. The Maoists include Bapu alias Ramaji Doghe Wadde, 30, native of Nelgunda; Maroti alias Anturam alias Manik Sadhu Gawade, 34, native of Kaneli; Suman alias Janni Komati Kudyami, 24, native of Padatanpalli and  Ajit alias Bharat Mainu Hichami, native of  Zarewada of the Maoist-infested Gadchiroli district. They were carrying a total reward of Rs 18 lakh declared by the state government, said Gadchiroli police.

“Based on an intelligence input, an anti-Maoist operation was launched by the Special Operation Squad (C-60), Gadchiroli in the forest of Nelgunda within the limits of Armed Out Post (AOP), Dhodraj. While conducting the operation, Gadchiroli police arrested four hardcore Maoists,” said Ankit Goyal, the superintendent of police, Gadchiroli. “Information regarding the Maoists of CPI (Maoists) groups entering Nelgunda village in plain clothes in order to execute their subversive activities was learnt from reliable sources. Accordingly, the anti-Maoist operation was launched by the C-60 parties,” Goyal said.