Maha: 224 cops, 246 Naxals, 571 civilians killed since 1980

Mumbai: Naxals have killed 224 security forces' personnel in Maharashtra since 1980, a senior state government official said Tuesday.

The latest incident was on May 1 when 15 Quick Response Team personnel and their driver were killed in Jambhurkheda in the district's Kurkheda tehsil after their vehicle was blown up with an improvised explosive device (IED). Apart from security forces, Naxals have also killed 571 civilians since 1980 while the Maoist ultras have seen 246 cadre gunned down in the same period, he said.

"Calendar year 2018 was special as the police did not lose a single personnel while they managed to gun down 50 Naxals," he said.

"It is to be noted that of the 246 Naxals killed so far, 98 have been shot dead after 2014. The police force lost 19 personnel since 2014," he said.

Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and Gondia have been declared Naxal-affected districts in Maharashtra by the Ministry of Home Affairs.