Dantewada Naxal Attack LIVE: BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi was killed in the ambush by Naxals.
Dantewada Naxal Attack LIVE: Just 48 hours before Lok Sabha elections in the Bastar region, five people, including BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi, were killed on Tuesday in a Naxal attack in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh. An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was used by the Naxals in the attack that took place at Nakulnar in the district.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel chaired a high-level meeting in Raipur and directed security forces to “respond in the manner in which Naxals understand. The attack took place between Kuakonta and Shyamgiri hills when the escort vehicle of the state police was targetted with the IED. Four personnel of the Chhattisgarh Police were killed in the attack. A reinforcement party of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was rushed to the spot.
Read | On last day of campaigning, BJP MLA, four others killed in Naxal attack
Condemning the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, that the sacrifices of these martyrs will not go in vain. “Shri Bhima Mandavi was a dedicated Karyakarta of the BJP. Diligent and courageous, he assiduously served the people of Chhattisgarh. His demise is deeply anguishing. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” PM tweeted. P Sundar Raj, DIG, Naxal operations, said that the MLA’s vehicle came in the ambit of the IED blast that left a huge crater on the site of the attack.
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said, "Our govt was trying to gain trust of tribal public. So in desperation, Naxals committed this heinous crime. We took a meeting of officials and reiterated, "Naxalo ki har goli ka jawab unhi ki bhasha mein diya jaaye.(Every Naxal attack will be answered back in the language they use)."
I spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri
@bhupeshbaghel regarding the IED attack in Dantewada and expressed my grief over the martyrdom of state police personnel. He has also apprised me of the ground situation in Dantewada.<"I am in contact with central ministers; spoke to PM Modi an hour ago. I will go to Dantewada and meet the families of the deceased. Congress ki boli aur goli ka asar dikhne laga hai."
The security personnel killed in the Dantewada Naxal attack has been identified as Danteshwar Maurya, Driver. Jawans of District Force: Chhagan Kuldeep, Somdu Kawasi and Ramlal Oyami. Three weapons are missing from the attack site.
Shocked and pained at the #NaxalAttack which took place today in #Dantewada, killing 5 people including MLA Shri Bhima Mandavi. Such ghastly and disturbing acts of violence cannot be justified in any manner. My prayers are with the family and friends of the departed souls.
The attack is reminiscent of a similar incident that took place in the Naxal hotbed of Bastar ahead of the assembly elections in May 2013. Twenty-seven people, including senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma and former Union minister V C Shukla, were killed in the ambush. Before the assembly elections in November last year, a CISF personnel and three civilians were killed in Dantewada when an improvised explosive device planted by Naxalites tore through a bus.
We have information of BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi, his driver and 3 PSOs getting killed in IED blast in Dantewada, today evening. It was a powerful IED blast. Bodies to be evacuated at the earliest for identification.
BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi was advised by police not to visit the area. After the attack, firing from both sides continued for half an hour. There were 5 more security personnel in a car following the BJP MLA's car, we are locating them: SP Abhishek Pallav
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has called a high-level meeting in Raipur. The attack took place between Kuakonta and Shyamgiri hills when the escort vehicle of the state police was targetted with the IED.
The attack is being seen as a clear call by the Naxals to boycott the Lok Sabha polls which are scheduled to be held in three phases in Chhattisgarh. The election in the Bastar region is to be held in the first [phase on April 11.
Bhima Mandavi was a dedicated Karyakarta of the BJP. Diligent and courageous, he assiduously served the people of Chhattisgarh. His demise is deeply anguishing. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti. 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: PM Modi
BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi was killed in the attack that took place in Dantewada of Chhattisgarh. Four other personnel of the Chhattisgarh Police were also killed in the IED blast