In a co-ordinated attack carried out by Maoist guerrillas on Friday, five policemen were killed in a forested area in Chhattisgarh’s restive but poverty-hit sprawling Bastar region, a senior official said.
Dozens of armed Maoists sprayed bullets at a hilly portion on an 11-member team of Road Opening Party (ROP) led by Vivek Shukla, thana-in-charge of Kuakonda police station in Dantewada district, about 440 km south of State capital Raipur. “At least five policemen were martyred, including Vivek Shukla, in the deadly attack and three others were injured, Maoists had also walked away with arms of the deceased policemen and burnt motorcycles which the policemen were riding in the area which is known as Maoist heartland since late 1980s.” Superintendent of Police Dantewada, Narendra Khare, told The Pioneer.
The incident took place at village Shyamgiri under Kuakonda police station jurisdiction when road opening police party led by Vivek Shukla was on duty at road construction site to ensure security. Extra police personnel have been deployed in the area which is surrounded by iron-ore mines, to apprehend the attackers which were estimated up to 80 in numbers.
Chief Minister Raman Singh has termed the attack a cowardice act of Maoists. He said, “This cowardly act of Naxalites proves that they want the villagers to remain deprived of even basic facilities like roads. It is an extremely condemnable act to obstruct road construction work.”