Baghel expresses grief over Naxal attack

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed deep sorrow over the death of BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel in a Naxal attack in Dantewada district Tuesday.

After the 2013 Jhiram valley Naxal attack, in which several Congress leaders were killed, this was another major and highly condemnable "attack on parliamentary democracy", Baghel said here.

"Our MLA colleague Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel were killed in the Naxal attack. I am deeply shocked over the incident. I have no words to express my sorrow," Baghel tweeted.

"Who will understand this pain more than us (the Congress) as we lost an entire generation of our leaders in a major Naxal attack," he said, referring to the Jhiram valley attack.

"Our government is trying to win the confidence of tribal people in the entire state including Bastar. This ghastly act is outcome of their (Naxals') frustration," Baghel said.

"We again repeat our commitment to our fight to strengthen parliamentary democracy. I have reiterated my directive to officials to give reply to Naxals' bullets in their own language," the chief minister added.

Following the attack, Baghel held a meeting with senior security officials.

Mandavi and four security personnel were killed when Naxals blew up their vehicle in Kuwakonda police station area, two days before the first-phase elections in the state.