After differing with the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh on handling of Naxalite issue, Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader and Union Labour Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao caused further embarrassment to the state government when he called on former Naxalite emissary Vara Vara Rao at a jail here today.Rao, who had arrived from Delhi last night, drove to Chanchalguda prison where the Maoist ideologue is lodged and spent about 30 minutes with him.The TRS chief had earlier condemned imposition of ban on CPI (Maoist) and its front organisations.His meeting with Vara Vara Rao, a member of the banned Revolutionary Writers’ Association (Virasam), raised many an eyebrow in Congress circles, signaling further strain in relations between the two pre-poll allies.Naxalite groups, which have significant pockets of influence in Telangana region, are supporting the demand for a separate state. The TRS chief had yesterday said that his party would go it alone in the civic polls.Raipur: CRPF jawan killed in Naxal strike Raipur: A CRPF personnel was killed and three, including a commandant, injured when Naxalites triggered a powerful landmine blast in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh today, police sources said.Unconfirmed reports said 18 security personnel were killed. The blast took place near Padeda village, about 12 km from Bijapur. Chhattisgarh Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam said a CRPF jawan was killed and three injured. The anti-landmine vehicle, in which the CRPF men were travelling, was damaged. Netam said more police companies have rushed to the spot. It could not be ascertained how many security personnel were travelling in the vehicle, he said. — PTI
