Indian troops kill 26 rebels in Maharashtra state

NEW DELHI, Nov. 14: At least 26 armed rebels, known as Naxals, were killed in an encounter with Indian security forces in southwestern state Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on Saturday, local media reported.

Four security personnel were also injured in the gunfight that took place in the Mardintola forest area.

"So far, the bodies of 26 Naxals have been recovered from the forest," media reports quoted a top police official as saying.

According to a report by India Today, the gun battle took place at Korchi in the Mardintola forest area when a C-60 police commando team was conducting a search operation.

The report said that while the identity of the slain Naxals was yet to be ascertained, a top rebel leader was suspected to be among them.

Currently, Naxals are active across the central and eastern parts of India.

New Delhi has deployed several companies of its paramilitary forces to take on Naxals in their strongholds.