Naxals kill 9 escort cops,Jharkhand MP escapes

Namdhari,who escaped unhurt,was returning home to Daltongunj after inaugurating a branch of St Xaviers College at Mahuadanr in Latehar. The former Jharkhand Assembly Speaker represents the neighbouring Chatra Lok Sabha constituency.

All the police officials in the bullet-proof armoured escort vehicle with him were killed,including seven constables,an assistant sub-inspector and a havildar.

Still to believe his luck,Namdhari told The Sunday Express: The escort party was moving very slowly. I told my driver to move ahead. As my vehicle went 100-200 metres past them,I heard the explosion.

We have cordoned off the area and a search operation is on, said Latehar SP D B Sharma.

The police believe Namdhari,whose visit to Mahuadanr was not a secret,may not have been the intended target and that the attack was part of a bandh called over Kishenjis death in an encounter.

Though the bandh was slated to begin from Saturday night,the Maoists carried out another strike during the day,setting on fire three trucks of a private company in Pakur.