A large number of CRPF personnel had been shifted to south Gadchiroli earlier this year. Tondre was part of the joint operation of CRPF and Hedri police post personnel, who tried to engage an outfit of Naxalites camping on the hillock of Hedri. The combined security force, which had left Hedri in the wee hours, had to trudge uphill through thick vegetation for around 10km before reaching ground zero. Sources said that sentries posted by Naxalites opened fire on spotting the advancing troops and the security forces retaliated.
Reliable sources said senior cadre Sainath was camping at the site with a bunch of armed cadres, who are likely to be part of Perimilli Local guerrilla squad (LGS) or area committee members. The Naxalites were at the higher elevation, and found the dim light of the early hours and forested cover an advantage in escaping from the place. The security forces were also hampered by large boulders on the hill. In the meantime, the injury to Tondre forced the security forces to rush him to medical assistance.
Sources from Gadchiroli said Tondre, a native of Bhandara, had joined the force in 2005. He is considered one of the best scouts of CRPF, and is well acquainted with the terrain. Tondre has been posted at Gadchiroli for the last three years.
Security forces later conducted a search operation in the region to collect more information regarding the camping Naxalites, but returned empty-handed. Gadchiroli police are increasing pressure on the Naxalites in the southern part of the district under the supervision of Additional SP, Aheri, Mahesh Reddy.
Superintendent of police, Gadchiroli, Abhinav Deshmukh said the encounter was an intelligence based operation. "We had specific information regarding the presence of Naxalites. We are now trying to ascertain how the Naxalites reached the place and what was their further plan," said Deshmukh.
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