Pre-poll violence: Naxalites kill BJP MLA, four security personnel

SHYAMAGIRI HILLS: Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel were killed on Tuesday when their convoy was attacked by suspected Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district. The attack comes two days before the first phase of Lok Sabha election begins in the state. Dantewada falls in the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, which goes to the polls on April 11, reports The Hindu.

The Election Commission said the first phase of polling in the state would be held as per schedule. The ambush occurred at the Shyamagiri hills when the MLA’s convoy was heading to Kuwakonda from the Bacheli area, which is about 450 km from the State capital Raipur.

The Maoists blew up a vehicle in the convoy with an improvised explosive device (IED) and opened fire at its occupants. Security forces were rushed to the area, police sources said.

The killed security personnel were identified as driver Danteshwar Maurya and District Force jawans Chhagan Kuldeep, Somdu Kawasi and Ramlal Oyami. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted condolence messages and paid tribute to those killed.

Modi “strongly” condemned the attack, saying the sacrifice of those killed would not go in vain. The Congress condemned the attack, with party president Rahul Gandhi terming it a “very tragic” incident.