At least 26 naxals were killed in an encounter with police in eastern Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on Saturday, said senior officials. The area of the incident is 900km away from Mumbai.

"So far, the bodies of 26 naxals have been recovered from the forest," said district superintendent of police Ankit Goyal.

The gunbattle took place in the morning at Korchi in Mardintola forest area when a C-60 police commando team was conducting a search operation led by additional SP Soumya Munde, Goyal said.

While identity of the slain naxals was yet to be ascertained, according to sources a top rebel leader was suspected to be among them.

Four police personnel were also seriously injured in the action and were taken to Nagpur by a helicopter for treatment, officials had said earlier.