Four Communists, carrying a collective bounty of Rs 36 lakh, were killed in an encounter with police in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district on Tuesday.

The deceased Communists have been identified as Vargeesh, Magtu, both secretaries of different Naxal comittees, and platoon members Kursang Raju and Kudimetta Venkatesh.

Superintendent of Police Neelotpal said that the police received information on Monday afternoon that some Naxalites had entered Gadchiroli from neighbouring Telangana by crossing the Pranhita river with an aim to carry out subversive activities amid the model code of conduct in place for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Multiple teams of C-60, a specialised combat unit of the Gadchiroli police, and the Central Reserve Police Force’s Quick Action team were sent for a search in the area, he added.

While one of the C-60 unit teams was conducting a search in the Kolamarka mountains near Repanpalli, Communists fired at them indiscriminately to which the security personnel retaliated. After the firing stopped, the area was searched and bodies of four Communists were found.

An AK-47 gun, a carbine, two country-made pistols, Naxal literature and other items were also recovered, according to the official.