Naxals hit back after cops kill 9

Within hours after the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) killed nine Maoists in an encounter on Tuesday,the rebels struck back,triggering a landmine blast and killing two paramilitary personnel near Sitapalli on Bijapur-Awapalli road in South Bastar in Chhattisgarh.

“The rebels targeted a bunker vehicle of the CRPF. Two CRPF personnel,including a driver,were killed in the attack Tuesday afternoon,” Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) T J Longkumer said,quoting preliminary reports.

Police said the Naxalites blew up the CRPF’s bunker vehicle in an area where they have earlier ambushed security forces through landmine attacks.

Earlier in the day,the CRPF men carried out an encounter in the forests near Jagargunda in Dantewada district,killing nine Maoist rebels and recovering four 12 bore rifles from the spot of the encounter. “There could be more casualties on the rebel side,” Senior Superintendent Police S R P Kalluri said.