New Delhi: Four personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and two injured after Naxals blew up a mine-protected-vehicle (MPV) in poll-bound Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district Saturday, police said.
The incident occurred around 4 pm near Murdanda camp of the CRPF under Awapalli police station, when its 168th battalion was out on “area domination” operation, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg told PTI.
When the MPV carrying six personnel was around one km away from the camp, militants triggered a powerful landmine blast, he said.
“Four paramilitary personnel were killed and two others were injured in the blast,” he said.
In August this year, the Centre had withdrawn more than 7,000 CRPF personnel who were deployed to conduct anti-Maoist operations from West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand and deputed them in the Naxal-hit regions of South Bastar in Chhattisgarh. The four slain personnel are believed to be a part of this recent deployment.
Reinforcement was rushed to the spot immediately and the injured personnel were being evacuated, the official said, adding they were retrieving the bodies from the site.
Four Central Reserve Police Force personnel (one ASI, one head-constable, two constables of 168 battalion) lost their lives in an IED blast in Awapalli Police Station area(Bijapur). 2 injured jawans sent for medical treatment:P Sundar Raj, DIG (Anti-Naxal Operation).#Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/axnnlJswza
— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2018
The attack took place on a day when chief minister Raman Singh launched the ruling BJP’s campaign for the first phase of polls on November 12 in neighbouring Sukma district.
The first phase of election will cover 18 constituencies in eight Naxal-affected districts – Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon.
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The second phase of polls will be held on November 20.
Naxals had recently put up posters in parts of Bastar region calling for a boycott of the polls.
(With PTI inputs)