Gadchiroli, May 16 -- In a major breakthrough against Left Wing Extremism, police have declared Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district "Naxal-free" following the arrest of eight Naxals, including all six armed cadres active in the district as per official records, and the surrender of five others from neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
The operation, codenamed 'Antim Prahar' (Final Strike), was led by Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police M Ramesh and jointly executed by the district police's Special Campaign Squad and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the border areas adjoining Telangana and Chhattisgarh.
Police said four armed Naxals were arrested from Telangana, while four others were apprehended from Kumnaar and Naitala villages near the Ch...