Naxal attack: CRPF shifts commandant

In the first internal punitive action taken by the CRPF after the Naxal blast in Gadchiroli that claimed 12 of its personnel and left 28 injured,commandant of 192 Battalion Ashok Sanyal was transferred to New Delhi,senior police sources said

In the first internal punitive action taken by the CRPF after the Naxal blast in Gadchiroli that claimed 12 of its personnel and left 28 injured,commandant of 192 Battalion Ashok Sanyal was transferred to New Delhi,senior police sources said.

Meanwhile,the Gadchiroli police,on Sunday night,arrested four persons in connection with the blast last week near Pushtola village in Dhannora tahsil of Gadchiroli. Rahul Atla,Dashrath Halami,Naresh Zuri and Nanaji Pada from Pushotala and Bapda villages were on Monday produced before a Gadchiroli court which remanded them in eight days police custody.

A senior police officer told The Indian Express that the four persons are militia members of CPIMaoist and have admitted to their supportive role in the plan executed by a member of the Chatgaon Dalam. They said the blast was triggered by a Dalam member while they provided the logistical support, the officer said.

The blast had happened ahead of the tentatively scheduled visit by CRPF D-G K Vijay Kumar to Fulbodi Gatta village on the day of the incident. Generally,when senior officials visit the sensitive Naxal-affected parts,only the select few,including the commandant,know about it.

The incident occurred on March 27 just before noon when 40 personnel of the CRPF were travelling in a bus of from Phustola to Gatta village in Dhanora,around 50 km from the Gadchiroli district headquarters.

Maoists kill 2 villagers in Maharashtra

After killing 12 CRPF personnel in an IED blast in Dhanora tahsil in the north part of the district,Naxalites struck in the south Sunday night,killing two middle-aged men from Joganguda village in Aheri tahsil. Additional SP Sudhir Hiremath said,The villagers are not saying anything,but as per our information,Naxals came at night and took away Bapu Kanna Venka,aged over 50 years. They returned to the village again in the wee hours today to take Arjun Talandi. Both were found shot dead in the morning.

ENS