The Hindu : Front Page : IAF officer killed in naxalite attack on copter

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Saturday, Nov 15, 2008
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IAF officer killed in naxalite attack on copter

Aarti Dhar

RAIPUR: A non-commissioned officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was killed and a Squadron Leader injured when suspected naxalites attacked their helicopter as soon as it took off from Bijapur in South Bastar.

The helicopter was airlifting electronic voting machines and polling staff when it was attacked.

Sergeant Mustafa Ali received a bullet in the head and died on the spot while the pilot, Squadron Leader T.K. Chaudhury also received bullet injuries when the helicopter was fired upon from the rear with light machine guns. A volley of bullets hit the wings and some hit those inside, Director General of Police Vishwaranjan said.

Showing presence of mind, the crew flew the helicopter to Jagdalpur, district headquarters of Bastar. The casualties came to light only after the helicopter landed at Jagdalpur.

Earlier in the day, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) man was killed after being hit by a sniper bullet at Antagarh in Kanker district. Elsewhere there were 25 encounters between security men and naxalites, all of which were repulsed. Six polling booths were attacked but the security forces beat back the attackers. As many as 21 EVMs were looted, 20 of which were replaced, Mr. Vishwaranjan said.

Heavy security arrangements had been made in the five districts of the Bastar division that has 12 Assembly segments. The naxalites had given a boycott call and even threatened to kill those who participated in the election process.

Despite the threat, the overall polling percentage in the naxalite-affected town remained high with Dantewada and Bijapur reporting close to 40 per cent.

Narayanpur saw 35 per cent voter turnout, Kanker 45 and Bastar 55 per cent. Reports reaching Raipur said there was virtually no polling at Bhopalapatnam on the Chhattisgarh-Andhra Pradesh border, despite deployment of security forces. Fearing retaliation after the personnel retreated, voters preferred to stay indoors.

Corrections and Clarifications

A Delhi report "IAF officer killed in naxalite attack on copter" (November 15, 2008, page 1) said that according to the DGP, a volley of bullets hit the wings. A helicopter has rotor blades and not wings.

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