A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) convoy was attacked by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada, on Tuesday evening. BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi has been killed in the attack, ANI quoted P Sundar Raj, DIG-Anti-Naxal Ops as saying.
Dantewada, perhaps the most affected region when it comes to Naxal militancy, falls under the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, which is slated to go to polls on April 11. The campaigning for the polls ended on Tuesday at 5 pm, minutes before the attack.
Police said BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi was advised against visiting the place.
"Bheema Mandavi was advised to not visit the area. After the attack, firing from both sides continued for half an hour. There were five more security personnel in a car following the BJP MLA's car; we are locating them," Abhishek Pallav, SP Dantewada, told ANI.
PM Modi condemns attack
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to condemn the attack on his party convoy.
"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 posted.
He added, "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."
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.
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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.
5,174 people are talking about this
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.
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