4 police officials shot dead by naxalites

Jagdalpur, Dec 13 (UNI) Four police officials, including three special police officers, were killed when naxalites last night attacked a government-run relief camp for the tribals displaced in hostilities between the ultras and security forces at Basaguda in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.

Police sources said about 200 armed naxalites attacked the camp around 0200 hours and the police jawans returned the fire. SPOs Pattanam Ganpat, Rambabu and Laxman and Constable Brijesh Kotam were killed. The ultras also took away two rifles, two guns and wireless set from the camp.

At the time of the attack, majority of the inmates were not present as they were taken to Gangalur for Chief Minister Raman Singh's public meeting on Monday.

Bastar range IG R K Vij said search of the naxalites was going on. Four petrol bombs were seized from the area. Senior police officers also reached the spot, he added.

Local youth, including girls, were appointed as Special Police Officers on a monthly honorarium of Rs 2,000 in the naxalite affected Bastar region to assist the regular police and other security forces in anti-naxal operations.

The government had opened 22 relief camps in Dantewada district to give shelter to about 55,000 people displaced from 600 villages after the government-supported 'Salwa Judum' movement was launched in June last year.

UNI XC-SP 1144