Naxals torch bus in Dantewada, none hurt

Raipur, Nov 23: Naxals today set on fire a bus after asking its occupants to alight in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Dantewada district.

The move by Naxals comes a day after its four women cadres were gunned down in a fierce gun-battle with security forces in the region. The incident took place near restive Gatam village under Katekalyan police station limits when the government-run Jan Suvidha Express bus was on its way to Dantewada from Katekalyan, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Kamlochan Kashyap told PTI.

Over 24 armed cadres stopped the vehicle near Gatam, and asked the passengers to get down from the bus after which the Naxals set it ablaze, he said. No one was hurt in the incident, he said.

Terming the incident as a reaction by rebels to the yesterday's encounter, Kashyap said the Naxals are frustrated with the increasing pressure of security forces in the region.

Such cowardly acts are an outcome of their frustration, he said. Soon after being informed, security forces rushed to the spot, the official said adding that a combing operation has been launched in the region to nab the attackers.

Four women Naxals were yesterday killed and a top Maoist leader injured in an encounter with security forces in Nagalguda Pahad (hill) of Gadiras area, which falls on the Sukma-Dantewada border, located around 450 km from here.

PTI