Two days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, a convoy of BJP leaders was attacked by Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada on Tuesday evening.
In the Naxal attack, Dantewada BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi, including five policemen, have been killed.
The convoy was travelling for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and MLA Mandavi was in the last vehicle of the convoy which was hit by an IED blast. Soon after, the IED blast was followed by a round of firing by the Naxals.
“BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi killed in naxal attack in Dantewada,” confirmed P Sundar Raj, DIG anti-Naxal operations.
The state police escort vehicle accompanying Bheema Mandavi came under attack.
The BJP convoy was travelling between Kuakonta and Shyamgiri in Dantewada when it was targeted by the Naxals. A group of CRPF personnel has been rushed to the spot in Shyamgiri under Kuakonda Police Station in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack.
Strongly condemn the Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh. My tributes to the security personnel who were martyred. The sacrifices of these martyrs will not go in vain.
— Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 9, 2019
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In a statement, CRPF said, “Between Kuakonta and Syamgiri in Dantewada, the convoy of BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi came under an IED attack today. The escort vehicle of State Police came under the blast. 5 personnel of Chhattisgarh State Police are critically injured. Reinforcement of CRPF has been rushed.”
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has spoken to the DG anti-Naxal operations. Baghel also called a high-level meeting.
Polling in Chhattisgarh will be held in first three phases on April 11, 18 and 23.