ID :
55680
Wed, 04/15/2009 - 20:04
Auther :

Maoists target security forces ahead of first phase of polls

Latehar/Sasaram, Apr 15 (PTI) In attacks aimed at
disrupting Thursday's first phase of parliamentary polls,
Maoists Wednesday targeted security personnel in India's
eastern states of Jharkhand and Bihar killing at least two
persons, including a Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF)
constable, and leaving seven others injured while suffering
five casualties themselves.

In Latehar area of Jharkhand, about 125 kms from Ranchi,
the Maoists triggered a landmine blast targeting an empty bus
heading to a poll cluster for Thursday's polls in Naxal-
affected Palamau constituency, killing the civilian driver.
Latehar falls under the Palamau seat.

Immediately after the blast, 80 CRPF constables, who
had alighted from the bus fearing an attack on a road stretch
on a sharp incline and were walking behind the vehicle, took
positions and fired on the extremists, Inspector General of
Police (Provision) S N Pradhan said.

CRPF constable Dharmendar Yadav and five Maoists were
killed in the exchange of fire, he said. Six injured Maoists
were taken away by the extremists. Six CRPF personnel were
also injured in the gunfight.

Earlier Wednesday, about 200 Maoists attacked a Border
Security Force (BSF) camp of 70-odd men and officers in
Bihar's Rohtas district, set up in connection with the polls,
leaving a jawan injured, Superintendent of Police Vikas
Vaibhav told PTI in Sasaram, around 200 kms from Patna.

About heavily armed guerrillas, who have called for a
boycott of the Lok Sabha polls, surrounded the BSF camp near
Rohtasgarh fort in Dhansa valley at around 1.40 AM IST and
attacked it with rockets, Additional Director General of
Police (HQ) Neelmani said in Patna.

The BSF personnel retaliated and engaged the ultras
in an encounter that lasted over three and a half hours.

A BSF jawan, who suffered a leg injury, has been
evacuated and shifted to Patna Medical College hospital
where he is reported to be out of danger, Neelmani said.

IG (Operations) S K Bharadwaj said two IAF helicopters
were assisting the forces in tracking down the retreating
Naxals and airdropping security personnel.

Rohtas SP, Vikas Vaibhav is leading a team of central
para-military forces, state police and a special task force in
the forests around the scene of encounter.

Sources in the state police headquarters said there
were signs of the wounded being dragged, indicating casualties
on the part of the Naxalites, but no bodies had been found so
far.

It was for the first time in the last 15 years or more
that polling stations were set up at Budhuan and Dhansa close
to Rohtasgarh fort to enable the electors to cast their votes
and the BSF contingent was stationed close by to instill
confidence among them.

Wednesday night, CRPF and the Maoists had exchanged
gunfire at Ratnag village, also in Palamau district.

The police had launched a concerted move against the
Naxalites following their call for boycott of elections and
destroyed their training camp in the forest close to Nakti
village under Rohtas police station limits a couple of days
ago. Today's attack could be in retaliation for that, sources
said.

On April 12, at least 11 CISF personnel were killed in
a gunfight following a daring attack by Maoists on a
well-guarded armoury and bauxite mine of public sector NALCO
in Orissa's Koraput district. Four naxalites were killed in
the encounter. PTI

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