NEW DELHI, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior Naxal commander was killed Tuesday in a gunfight with government forces in the southwestern state of Karnataka, police said.
The gunfight broke out between Naxals and a joint contingent of the Anti-Naxal Force and police in Kabbinale forest in Udupi district, about 370 km west of Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka.
According to police, the gunfight was triggered during a search operation carried out on specific intelligence information regarding the presence of Naxals in the forest area.
One dreaded Naxal, Vikram Gowda, was dead, senior police officer Roopa Divakar Moudgil told media. "He was the most wanted among Naxals here and there were 61 cases against him."
Police said Gowda was a key commander of Naxal movement in Karnataka and was wanted for over 20 years.
Currently, Naxals were active across central and eastern parts of India. ■