Gadchiroli:
Just days before Maharashtra goes to polls, one of the worst Naxal attacks took place in Gadchiroli, where 18 men of the anti-Naxal force were killed.
A police ceremony is being organised on Friday for the cops killed in the encounter. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, the Guardian Minister, and the Director General of Police will attend the ceremony.
According to police sources, a team of 40 securitymen were patrolling when they were ambushed by over 200 Naxals.
While 18 policemen died, 22 survived the attack. The policemen put up a tough fight despite being outnumbered.
Police sources also say there was some intelligence report about possible attacks, and reports of a Naxal military contingent having crossed over to Gadchiroli from Chhattisgarh.