Four Naxalites and a constable were killed on Friday morning in an exchange of fire between insurgents and police in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.

Police Constable Shrinivas Yeliga Dandigwar, from the C-60 district police team lost his life after suffering fatal injuries in the exchange of fire with Naxalites, police said.

The encounter took place at Tophar near Bhamragarh, bordering Chhattisgarh around 0630 hours, they said.

"We have recovered all the four bodies and the identification of the deceased is on," Additional Director General of Police (Anti-Naxalites operation) Pankaj Gupta told PTI.

Gupta said that police have recovered three 303 rifles and one self-loading rifle, which suggests at least one of the dead Naxals was a high ranking one.

Three Naxals, including platoon dalam commander Chaitu were killed on Thursday in Sironch area of the district during an exchange of fire between the extremists and the police party.

Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Rajesh Pradhan had claimed that the body of Chaitu was recovered while the Naxals managed to carry away the remaining bodies.