Nagpur:
Four security personnel, including one commando of an elite anti-naxal force, were killed during an exchange of fire in Maharashtra's Gadhchiroli district on Thursday morning, police said.
The DIG of Naxal Range said 15 Maoists were also killed in the encounter but the bodies of two have been found so far.
Around 250 Maoists were involved in the encounter.
The commando, Chinna Menta of the C-60 battalion, was killed in the clash when a group of naxalites attacked a police patrol party at Nargond in Bhamragarh taluk in the district, Additional SP (operations) Rahul Sheth told PTI.
The injured have been brought to the Gadchiroli Civil hospital for treatment, Sheth told PTI.
A chopper, which was sent to the encounter site, has brought the body of Menta to Gadchiroli, he said. Sheth said that the two Naxals killed appeared to be senior cadres and police have recovered pouches of AK-47 ammunition from them.
Another police party was also engaged with Naxalites in Tadgaon area in the district and details are awaited, he said.