Orissa: 36 'elite cops' feared dead in Naxal attack

Malkangiri, Jun 30: Atleast 36 jawans of the elite anti-Naxal force are feared dead in Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district of Orissa on Sunday, June 29 in a naxal attack. Over 64 policemen of Andhra Pradesh's greyhound force were travelling to Chirakonda by a motor boat across the Balimela reservoir on the Orissa-Andhra border.

Naxals fired upon the boat from top of a nearby hill. The rebels managed to overturn the boat by targeting its operator after an exchange of fire between the two sides. The policemen were on a joint operation in Chitrakonda when the boat overturned, State Director General of Police (DGP) Gopal Nanda said to the media.

While 8 security personnel managed to swim out, a search operation has been started to trace the missing ones. Malkangiri Superintendent of Police S K Gajbhiye said that some caps used by the personnel were recovered from the 40-meter deep reservoir. 8 personnel who swam ashore had bullet injuries and is admitted to the hospital.

Fire brigade personnel and police force have launched a search operation to find clues about the missing personnel.

ANI