5 Naxals held for attacking police during polling

RAIPUR: Five Naxals, including a woman, were arrested in separate search operations in Chhattisgarh's Naxal-hit Bijapur district for attacking security personnel during first phase polling in the state on November 11.

Two cadres were arrested by a team of CRPF, CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) force and district force from the forest under Basaguda police station limits last evening, a senior police official said.

The search party was on a combing operation in Basaguda area, located around 450 km from Raipur, when it spotted two persons fleeing from the forest.

After chasing them, security forces nabbed them, he said. During interrogation they admitted their involvement in an attack on security personnel in forests of Tarrem village on November 11 when polling for state Assembly election was held in the region, he said.

In another incident, three ultras were held by a joint group of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and district force from the forests of the district's Bhusapur and Marudbaka villages two days back, the official said.

The rebels, reportedly members of Pamed/Usoor area committee of Maoist, were earlier also involved in several crimes including attempt to murder, planting bombs and attacks on police party in the region, he added.