BJYM leader shot at, injured by Naxals in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Apr 3: A 27-year-old BJP youth wing leader was today shot at and injured allegedly by Naxals at a temple in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police said.

Bijapur district BJYM President Murlikrishna Naidu was shot at by ultras in Bhairamgarh town at around 8 PM when he had gone to a temple, Bijapur Superintendent of Police K L Dhruv told PTI.

Four rebels armed with country-made guns and sharp-edged weapons stormed the temple and attacked him, the officer said.

"The ultras fired two bullets from behind which hit him in the shoulder and waist. They then tried to attack him with an axe but some persons present there came to his rescue," the SP said, adding the rebels then fled the spot.

Naidu was taken to a local hospital from where he was shifted to Jagdalpur district headquarters and was now being airlifted to Raipur for further treatment, Dhruv said. The officer said prima facie the attack was executed by a small action team of ultras but details will be known only after a probe into the incident is completed.

A native of Bhairmgarh, Naidu is an active leader of the party in the region. He is also close to Chhattisgarh Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda, an MLA from Bijapur constituency.

"Naidu was actively working for the party and looking after my activities in the region. Maoists have targeted him because of his close association with me," Gagda told PTI.

PTI