Presidential convoy not targeted in Chhattisgarh

New Delhi, Sep 29 (UNI) The Government today clarified that there has been no attack on the convoy of President Pratibha Devisingh Patil during her visit to Chhattisgarh today.

Refuting reports in some section of the media in this regard, a Rashtrapati Bhawan commuication said the President reached Raipur safely from Chitrakote, where she was on a brief visit.

Suspected Maoist insurgents triggered a landmine blast to blow up a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle in Bastar region hours before the President was scheduled to visit the area. A CRPF deputy commandant and a driver were killed, while five other troopers were injured.

The Deputy Commandant, of the 41st CRPF battalion, was identified as Diwakar Mahapatra. All the victims are from the 41st battalion who were returning after a road-opening assignment in the area, some 340 km from state capital Raipur.

Mrs Patil was in Bastar to visit the famous Chitrakote waterfall on Indravati river, just 27 km from the blast site.

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