In Maharashtra, seventeen policemen were killed in an ambush by Maoists at Laheri police station in Gadchiroli district. According to official sources a police team of 45 personnel was on a patrolling duty yesterday in the area when it was ambushed by the Maoists. The incident sparked a gunbattle between the two sides that lasted for more than four hours. Seventeen policemen, including sub inspector C S Deshmukh, were killed in the ambush by over 150 naxals. The encounter comes barely hours after Maoists set ablaze a gram panchyat office in the area. The killings took place two km from Lahiri police post in Bhamragad tehsil. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil has expressed outrage at the incident. He said the killings will strengthen the resolve of the state government in tackling the Naxal menace.In February, 15 policemen were killed in Naxal attacks and in May, 16 police personnel, including five women, lost their lives in a Naxal strike in Gadchiroli district. The Centre rushed additional paramilitary forces to Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, to assist the state security forces.