Paramilitary forces engaged in bringing out polling parties from inner parts of Bastar to safer places came under fire of Maoists even as the Rebels ambushed a vehicle carrying Border Security Force personnel killing two jawans along with the civilian driver on the spot while the BSF doctor accompanying the team was also injured seriously, police sources said.
According to State DGP Ramniwas, two BSF jawans along with their civilian driver were killed in the blast triggered by Maoists in Kerlapal area of insurgency hit Sukma district. A doctor accompanying them was injured in the attack and was lifted to Jagdalpur Medical College for treatment, he added.
According to police sources, a camp of BSF has been established at Manjhipara, some 3 km away from Kerlapal in Sukma district. On Tuesday morning, BSF jawans were reportedly returning to the camp in a TAVERA vehicle after leaving polling parties at Kerlapal when Maoist insurgents hiding in bushes blasted a culvert near Patelpara, just a furlong away from Kerlapal using a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Two BSF jawans, constable Uraj Prasad of 101 Battalion and Head Constable Hoshiar Singh of 83rd Battalion as well as driver Ravindranath Rai from Gondia were killed on the spot while Dr Rabbani accompanying the team in the same vehicle was hurt seriously. After administering first aid at the camp he was rushed to Medical College Jagdalpur from where he was reportedly airlifted to Raipur for better treatment late evening.
The blast was so powerful and loud that entire Kerlapal neighbourhood was shaken even as the vehicle was not only damaged badly but also thrown to some distance away from the site. While the culvert was completely damaged by the blast a large crater appeared at its place.
Bastar, which is bigger in size than Kerala, has been a stronghold of Maoists since late 1980s. The Bastar region, which is made up of seven districts, has witnessed a string of deadly attacks by Maoists on forces and civilians in recent years.