Naxals slay four; set off two blasts

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Mar 23 (UNI) Four persons, including a people's representative, associated with the 'Salwa Judum' anti-naxal campaign were slain in separate incidents in Bastar overnight by rebels who also triggered blasts at two places.

Naxals called a 'bandh' today in their area of influence within Dantewada district and transport was affected along the Bijapur-Bhopalpatnam road.

Police said the Orchha Janpad Panchayat's Congress-supporter Vice-Chairman Sunkuram Elam was fatally stabbed last night. Similar was the fate of Galmal village's Lakma Hidma, Hungla's Beko Manjlu and Lukanpal's Hema Chinha.

Extremists set off a landmine this afternoon four km from Bhairamgarh Police Station during an encounter. There were no casualties. Last night, naxals triggered an explosion within a transformer at Fundri village causing a blackout in the area.

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