14 policemen killed in naxalite raid in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Feb 16 (UNI) Armed naxalites killed at least 14 police personnel and another person in audacious late night raids on police stations, Police Training School and the district armoury at Nayagarh, about 130 km from here.

Nayagarh Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar said the naxalites took away a huge cache of arms and ammunition from district armoury and the Police Training School.

They also set fire to the Daspalla police station, before fleeing into the dense forest.

While one civilian was killed in the exchange of fire at the Nayagarh town, 14 policemen were killed during the attack on the Police Training School and Nayagarh police station.

This was the second major attack on a town in Orissa by the naxalites during the last four years. Earlier in 2004, hundreds of armed naxalites attacked five police stations in Koraput and looted the district armoury.

A large number of naxalites armed with sophisticated weapons arrived in the town around 2230 hrs yesterday and asked the residents to remain indoors and switched off the light before attacking the police station and looting the district armoury.

The policemen were taken by surprise due to the sudden offensive.

Heavy exchange of fire was reported from the Police Training school in which several policemen were reportedly killed.

Additional police reinforcements were rushed to Nayagarh district from the neighbouring area and all exit points to the district were sealed by the police soon after the incident.

The authorities have sounded a red alert in the neighbouring district police stations and launched combing operation to nab the naxalites, sources said.

According to eyewitness accounts, three naxalites were also killed in encounter with the police.

UNI DP PC YA AS0948