6 cops killed, 8 injured in Naxal attacks in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Six security personnel were killed and eight injured in back-to-back attacks by Naxals in insurgency-hit districts of Chhattisgarh, which has seen a string of strikes by the red ultras in the past three days.

The ultras on Monday blew up an anti-landmine vehicle in Dantewada, killing five police men and injuring eight, while a BSF jawan lost his life in Kanker district. The blast occurred on Cholnar-Kirandul Road under Kirandul Police Station limits when the security personnel were patrolling along a road construction route, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) SRP Kalluri told PTI.

The mine-protected vehicle, with 13 jawans belonging to Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and district force (DF) aboard, was dispatched from Cholnar camp for security of the construction work in the region, around 450 km from state capital Raipur. After covering a distance of about 2.5 km from the camp, when security forces reached near Khutiyapara village, rebels triggered the blast and opened firing. However, some of the injured retaliated, following which rebels fled from the spot, he added.