Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), May 21 (TIWN) At least 13 Maoists are reported to have been killed by security forces in a fierce gunbattle in the forests near Etapally, officials said here on Friday.

The operation was undertaken by elite C-60 commandos, who had cracked down upon the Maoists in a camp near a village, Times of India reported.  Some arms, weapons and substantial literature and other daily essentials have been recovered from the site.  The Maoist camp was reportedly broken in by the commandos from Gadchiroli and Aheri's Pranhita headquarter, and the encounter began around 4 am, Hindustan Times reported.  Sandip Patil, DIG of the Naxal range said, “We had kicked off the operation a day ago itself after learning about the Maoists' presence in the forest,” adding that searches were still on.