Two policemen killed, 11 injured in naxalite blast in Chhattisgarh

Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, Mar 19 (UNI) Two policemen were killed and 11 others were injured when the naxalites triggered a landmine blast near Kolarghat, about 40 km from here, late tonight.

Police said armed naxalites ambushed the vehicle at Kolarghat at around 2030 hours when a police party was returning from Dongergaon from Bortalab forest area, triggering a powerful landmine blast.

Constable Sanjay and police driver Tilaram were killed on the spot while 11 others sustained minor injuries.

Sub Divisional Officer (Police) Manoj Khaladi, who sustained serious injuries, has been admitted to a hospital in Bhilai while all the other injured were given first aid at Primary Health Centre, Dongergarh.

Police said the injured were being shifted to the district hospital at Rajnandgaon.

Additional police reinforcement has been sent to the area to carryout combing operations in the nearby forests to flush out the naxalites.

This is the major incident of naxalite violence outside tribal Bastar region ever since the Communist Party of India (Maoists) stepped up their activities in Chhattisgarh nearly six months ago.

The people of tribal Bastar region are already up in arms against the naxalites and they are actively participating in 'Salwa Judum', a campaign against the three decade old problem of naxalite violence in the region.

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