10 cops feared killed in Orissa Maoist attack

Ten policemen,including an Additional SP of the Chhattisgarh Police,are feared killed by Naxalites in Sunabeda wildlife sanctuary in Nuapara district of western Orissa.

Ten policemen,including an Additional SP of the Chhattisgarh Police,are feared killed by Naxalites in Sunabeda wildlife sanctuary in Nuapara district of western Orissa,about 70 km east of Raipur. Police sources said the attack took place when the policemen were coming back to their base after patrolling.

We have not had any communication with the team since noon. There are reports that they have been attacked by Naxalites. We are still trying to ascertain the facts and hoping for the best, Rajesh Mishra,Chhattisgarh IG,told The Indian Express.

Nuapara SP Rajesh Pandit said ASP Rajesh Powar along with nine subordinate officials from Gariaband region of Raipur district had come to the sanctuary area for patrolling on Monday.

After patrolling,they were going back in their Tata Sumo when their vehicle broke down. They were returning with their vehicle towed to a tractor when the attack is said to have taken place.

We last had contact with the team in the forenoon. After that there has been no communication from them. We have not been able to reach them on their phones, Mishra said.

He said a search party was being prepared to go immediately looking for the team. We are very cautious because this could even be a trap. The Naxalites are known to indulge in such tactics, he said.

Chhattisgarh DGP Vishwaranjan said he had been getting unconfirmed reports about the casualties. We are still verifying it. We are sending a police team from Chhattisgarh. The area has no mobile connectivity and that is a major handicap.

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Sunabeda sanctuary,spread over 600 sq km,is reported to have become a safe haven for the Maoists over the past several years. Bordering Chhattisgarh,the sanctuary is used by the Maoists to train their cadres. In June and July 2009,Maoists struck in Sunabeda sanctuary and burnt down forest offices.

In April last year,Maoist had shot dead a forester in the wildlife sanctuary.

There were reports that one of the policemen had escaped the Monday attack but the same could not be confirmed.