Two policemen and a cameraman of India’s national broadcaster Doordarshan (DD) killed during a Maoist attack at Dantewada district in the poll-bound central Indian state, Chhattisgarh on Tuesday (30).
The incident occurred at around 11 AM IST in a forest region near Nilawaya village in the state around 450 kilometres away from Raipur, the state capital, PTI quoted Deputy Inspector General (anti-naxal operations) Sundarraj P as saying.
The attack occurred when the Maoists ambushed a team of local police which was on its patrolling duty on motorcycles from Sameli camp towards Nilawaya.
A three-member team from DD News was on its way to gather poll-related news and at the same time the team was caught in a cross-fire, DIG added.
Sub-inspector Rudra Pratap Singh, assistant constable Mangalu and DD News cameraman Achyutanand Sahu were lost their lives in the attack, Sundarraj said.
The cameraman arrived from New Delhi for the election coverage.
Other two members of the DD News team, including a reporter, were safe, the officer confirmed.
The injured in the gunfight have been identified as constable Vishnu Netam and assistant constable Rakesh Kaushal have been admitted to Dabtewada district hospital.
“Strongly condemn the Naxal attack on @DDNewsLive crew in Dantewada. Deeply saddened by the demise of our cameraman Achyuta Nanda Sahu and two jawans of @crpfindia”, tweeted India’s Minister of State, Information and Broadcasting.
“These insurgents will not weaken our resolve. We will prevail”, the minister said in his twitter handle.
Chhattisgarh is heading to assembly elections in November and the Maoists have asked the people to boycott the elections. The voting process concludes on November 20 and the counting of the votes scheduled for December 11.
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