Maoist forces attacked a squad of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in a forested area in Chhattisgarh. In a three-hour battle the revolutionaries wounded five of them. An Assistant Commandant, a Sub-Inspector and three Constables were injured when 89-90 Maoists opend fire on them. The revolutionary forces were heading towards Pamed, to disrupt the election, said one official.
“Pamed was around six km away from the site when our personnel spotted the Maoists and an encounter began. The Maoists were equipped with LMG, UBGL and mortars. Our personnel cordoned off the area and mounted a flanking attack. Five of our personnel were injured. They were evacuated and flown to Raipur by helicopter,” Deputy Inspecor General M. Dinakaran said.
The attack occurred at a time when the first phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls was on in Bijapur and other places in the „Maoist-affected“ region. It was the sixth Maoist attack in 17 days in Chhattisgarh.
