Naxals attack police camp, 4 killed

Dantewada (Chhattisgarh), May 13: CPI(Maoist) naxalites attacked a police camp in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district early this morning, killing four special police officers on the spot and seriously injuring five others, police said.

The Nagaland Armed Police camp at Ijuram on Jagdalpur-Hyderabad highway, about 90 Km from here, came under attack at 0330 hours and the naxalites and police personnel exchanged fire. The seriously injured were hospitalised, initial reports said.

Before attacking the camp, naxalites blocked the highway by placing felled trees after midnight.

In stepped up anti-naxalite drive, the Chhattisgarh government has appointed local tribal youths, including girls, as Special Police Officers on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 1500 after month-long training in handling of firearms. They were specially engaged to assist the police in intelligence gathering and other operations.

About a year ago, a special anti-naxalite campaign 'Salwa Judum' was launched in Dantewada district to wean away local tribals from the ultras. In the ongoing hostilities, people deserted several villages and about 50,000 such people were given shelter in camps opened by the state government near police outposts.

About 3500 Special Police Officers were deployed in naxalite-affected areas and of late, many of them became the target of the ultras.

UNI