Naxal bloodbath in Chhattisgarh; 50 police personnel killed

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Mar 15 (UNI) In the fiercest naxal strike of its kind in Chhattisgarh, at least 50 security personnel were killed when naxals attacked a police camp in Dantewada district in the wee hours today.

''Chhattisgarh Special Armed Force personnel and Special Police Officers (SPOs) were among the casualties in the camp housed at Ranibodli Ashram school under Kutru Police Station near Bijapur,'' said Inspector-General (Bastar Range) R K Vij.

About 400 rebels launched the attack with petrol bombs and other explosives followed up with a heavy volume of gunfire. Most of the hapless victims were asleep when the attack began.

Local tribal youth, including girls, were appointed as SPOs on a monthly honorarium of Rs 1,500 to assist the security personnel in the anti-rebel operations.

Earlier, more than 60 people were killed in a naxal attack on Errabore relief camp housing displaced tribals in the same district a few months back.

Senior police officers were rushing to the site by helicopter, sources said.

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