15 policemen gunned down in Maharashtra Maoist attack

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Mumbai: At least 15 policemen were killed in a Maoist ambush of a police search squad in a forested area of eastern Maharashtra Sunday, an official said.

According to the official, Maoist insurgents attacked the police squad around 1100 hours (IST) in the forested Dhanora sub-division of Gadchiroli district, about 300 km from Nagpur.

The Maoist fire was returned and the ensuing gunfight was going on till reports last came in.

"The (gun battle) was on between the police and Naxalites (Maoists) since 1100 hours (IST).

We have an information that 14 police constables and a police sub-inspector have been martyred and several other security personnel are injured," the official told IANS.

Details of the Maoist casualties were not immediately available.

Security reinforcement were being rushed to the spot, the official said. At least 150 police vans, carrying over 3,000 additional security persons have been sent to the area Sunday evening.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has ordered deployment of additional security forces in the region, according to government sources.