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Three cops killed in Naxal attack

Raipur: Nearly 100 armed activists of the banned CPI (Maoists) attacked a police station in Bastar district, killing three police personnel, including an officer, and seriously injuring another, police said on Thursday.

The Maoists, armed with sophisticated weapons, raided the Bishrampur police station, about 240 km here, last night. Besides carrying out three landmines blasts, they resorted to indiscriminate firing, killing three policemen on the spot and injuring a constable, top police officers from Bastar told PTI over phone.

Those killed were an Assistant Sub-Inspector and two head constables, Bastar Range Inspector General of Police Rajinder Kumar Vij said. The Naxals came in four jeeps and motorcycles and asked the owners of the shops located near the police station to shut down their establishments and then raided the police station. The Maoists first cordoned off the police station and then opened indiscriminate firing to get inside. Once inside the police station, they set off three landmines, police said.

A portion of the police station, including the roof, collapsed and the wireless tower and telephone equipment were badly damaged, they said.

When the Naxalites raided the police station, only five policemen were present inside. As one of them was wearing a tracksuit, Maoists mistook him to be a civilian and spared him. The extremists also looted the pistol of the slain Sub-Inspector.

The policemen posted in Bishrampur had not been issued weapons and ammunition, apprehending they may be looted by the Naxals, who are very active in tribal-dominated Bastar.

The Maoists’ raid came on a day when State Director General of Police Vishwaranjan was participating in a social function at the district headquarters of Bastar at Jagdalpur along with senior officials. After hearing about the incident, senior officials, led by District Superintendent of Police Gurjinder Pal Singh, rushed to the spot with additional forces.

Officials involved in anti-Naxal operations said the entire attack was an example of `mobile war’ strategy adopted by the ultras to inflict maximum damage on security forces deployed in the state to combat the menace.

CPI (Maoist) chief Ganapathy had recently said the organisation would intensify the “people’s war” and spread it further. Chhattisgarh is one of the worst Naxal-affected states in the country. PTI

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Three cops killed in Naxal attack

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