Four Naxals arrested in Gadchiroli

Four Naxalites were arrested after a brief exchange of fire in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, the police said today.

Acting on a tip-off, a combing operation was launched in the Bukota forests area in Etapalli taluka. The Maoists opened fire at the police patrol, which retaliated and apprehended the extremists in a swift operation yesterday, they said.

Four rifles and six cartridges were seized from them.

The arrested extremists were identified as Chinna Maradi,45, Baju Karpa Kavdi,45, Somji Kudyeti,35, and Manohar Darshu Lakhni,25, the police said.

The police has begun the process of verifying their previous records and possible involvement in Naxal violence in and around Gadchiroli.