Maoists kill 4 security personnel in Bastar

Four security personnel were killed while another was seriously injured in two separate insurgency-related incidents in Chhattisgarh's Bastar division, police said Sunday.

In the first incident, suspected Maoist insurgents early Sunday attacked the Akashwani and Doordarshan Centre at village Bade Marenga on National Highway 16, 13 km away from divisional headquarters Jagdalpur, and killed three Chhattisgarh Armed Forces (CAF) personnel.

Another CAF personnel was injured and was later shifted to Raipur after initial treatment at the Medical College Hospital at Jagdalpur.

According to Bastar Superintendent of Police Mayank Shrivastava, five to six Maoist insurgents entered the premises by removing the fencing wire. They first fired at the sentry, constable Alexander Ekka, killing him on the spot. Then, the insurgents entered the relay centre and fired on the security personnel there. Constables Silwani Ekka and Basudeo were killed immediately and constable Mazhar was critically injured.

On hearing the gun shots, the nearby police station was informed and a team rushed to the spot. The insurgents fled towards the jungle firing indiscriminately but were unable to take away any arms belonging to the slain cops.

Later, Bastar Inspector General of Police Himanshu Gupta also reached the site and thoroughly enquired about the incident.

In the other incident, Maoist insurgents fired at a CAF camp at Sukma Sunday morning, killing one man. He was identified as Samaylal Kanwar of the 11th Battalion.