Chhattisgarh encounter: Naxals wore bulletproof jackets

Jagdalpur, July 11 (UNI) Chhattisgarh DGP Vishwaranjan today said the naxals who were part of Monday's Upalmeta encounter -- which claimed the lives of 24 security personnel in Dantewada district -- were wearing bulletproof jackets.

''Police personnel were attacked from the rear while returning after destroying a rebel camp. The martyred personnel put up stiff resistance despite having suffered bullet injuries on their backs,'' he told mediapersons here after visiting the site.

Denying that the ultras hailed from Nepal, the officer added that they might have been from Bihar or Uttarakhand. The Maoists looted 20 weapons including an AK-47 assault rifle.

Praising local tribals who were recruited as special police officers who fought the extremists, Mr Vishwaranjan said, ''One of them saved the lives of three CRPF constables. Such SPOs will be imparted better training.'' The casualties comprised 16 CRPF constables, a district police sub-inspector, a head constable, and six SPOs. More than 20 insurgents were neutralised.

UNI