Raipur: Two policemen and a cameraperson of Doordarshan were killed and two others were injured in a Maoist attack on Tuesday in poll-bound Chhattisgarhs Dantewada district.
Two naxals were also believed to be killed in retaliatory action by the security forces after the ambush in a forest area near Nilawaya village, around 450 kms from here, the police said.
The incident took place at around 11 am when a squad of local police was carrying out patrolling on motor cycles from Sameli camp towards Nilawaya on Tuesday morning, Deputy Inspector General (anti-naxal operations) Sundarraj P told PTI.
A three-member team of Doordarshan was travelling for election-related news coverage at the same time and was caught in the cross-fire, he said.
In the attack, Sub Inspector Rudra Pratap Singh, Assistant Constable Mangalu and DD News Cameraman Achyutanand Sahu were killed, Sundarraj said.
Sahu had come from New Delhi for coverage of Assembly elections to be held next month, he said.
Other two members of the DD team, including a journalist, were safe, the officer said.
Constable Vishnu Netam and Assistant Constable Rakesh Kaushal sustained injuries in the gunfight, he added.
The injured have been admitted to Dantewada district hospital, he said, adding that if required, they would be airlifted to Raipur for further medication.
D M Awashti, Special Director General (anti-naxal operations), said the exchange of fire between the maoists and security forces went on for about an hour.
The naxals then retreated into a village, with the security forces chased them, he said.
The security forces saw two people being dragged away by the maoists, which indicated that they were killed in the retaliatory action.
After the gunbattle, the security forces recovered 8 to 10 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which were later defused, Awasthi said.
He said the attack was not linked to the upocoming Assembly elections but was aimed at discouraging men and contractors working on a road construction project.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore condemned the attack and said the insurgents won’t be able to weaken the government resolve.
The state is going to polls next month and naxalites have asked voters to boycott the exercise. The counting of votes will take place on December 11. (PTI)
