Naxal attack on relief camp, toll rises to 33

Dantewara, Chhattisgarh, July 18 (UNI) The death toll in the naxalite attack on a relief camp here rose to 33, with the recovery of six bodies near Erabor village and death of an injured at a hospital at Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh today.

In a pre-dawn attack yesterday on a relief camp at Erabor, 130 km from here, sheltering about 5000 villagers displaced in the hostilities between the ultras and security forces since the launch of 'Salwa Judum' anti-naxal campaign last year, 26 people were killed. Of them, 18 were axed to death, 2 shot dead and 6 others burnt alive.

Of the 40 people, including 31 women, abducted by the ultras, bodies of six, including a lady Special Police Officer, were recovered from the roadside, 4 Km away from the camp on Erabor-Sukma road, police said.

Among the 17 injured admitted to a hospital at Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh, one succumbed to injuries.

More than 60 were injured in the attack by about 500 CPI(Maoist) naxalites. Four were hospitalised at Konta, while others were discharged after being administered first aid.

UNI XC-SP PR HS1146