Bhopal: Maoists on Thursday ambushed a search party of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Chhattisgarh’s north Bastar district of Kanker killing four troopers including an assistant-sub inspector and injuring two others.
The skirmish took place around noon in a dense forest near Mahla village in Kanker district when a joint team of BSF's 114th battalion and the District Force was out on a search operation, police said.
According to Bastar range inspector general of police Vivekanand Sinha, Maoists attacked a combing party comprising personnel of 114 Battalion of BSF near Mahala village under Pakhanjur block in Kanker district in the morning, leading to a fierce gun battle between them. Four BSF personnel including an ASI were killed and two others injured in the incident.
The deceased were identified as BSF's assistant sub- inspector Boro, and constables Ramkrishnan, Someshwar and Ishrar Khan, he said.
Assistant commandant Gopu Ram and inspector Gopal Ram were injured in the exchange of fire, he said. Soon after being alerted, reinforcement was rushed to the spot, he said, adding that a search operation was underway in the area. Security forces also inflicted injuries to some ultras in the incident. But, the rebels managed to escape.
Kanker (ST) is going to Lok Sabha elections along with Mahasamund constituency in the second phase polls in Chhattisgarh on April 11.
Eleven LS constituencies in Chhattisgarh are going to polls in three phases during April 11- April 23.
