MP: SPO killed in naxalite attack

Jagdalpur, Aug 27: Maoist naxalites today shot dead a Special Police Officer at a weekly market and attacked a bus injuring two passengers in Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, police said.

Police said SPO Mangu was killed at the weekly market at Tambeli in Bhambha police station area of Dantewada district.

Local tribal youth, including girls, are appointed as SPOs on a monthly salary of Rs 1500 to assist the security forces in anti-naxal operations in the thickly forested Bastar region. About 4,000 SPOs have been appointed in the last two years.

Two passengers- Mukesh Khute and Manish Dewangan-were injured when naxalites attacked a private bus in Tunkiguda hill area in Bijapur district. Both were initially treated at Bijapur hospital and Manish, whose condition was serious, was later shifted to the government hospital here.

Meanwhile, police and naxalites exchanged fire for about one hour this morning at Gulabi village in Bhairamgarh police station area, but details were awaited, the sources added.

UNI