Mumbai: Indian forces killed seven people, including a senior Moaist leader, during an operation in Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra state.

According to Global Mirror, the operation, launched near Phodewada village on the Narayanpur-Gadchiroli border, has been ongoing since February 3. Fourteen units of C-60, a special anti-Naxal force of the Gadchiroli Police, carried out the cordon and search operation, officially termed an anti-Naxal operation.

Officials said that among those killed was Prabhakar, a top Maoist leader from Kamareddy, Telangana, in charge of the Gadchiroli Division Committee, West Sub-Zonal Bureau, and ‘Company No. 10’. A reward of Rs 25 lakh had been announced for him. The identities of the remaining six killed are yet to be confirmed.