5 securitymen killed in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh

Some jawans of the force were involved in their regular chores near the camp of the 16th Battalion of the force in Jharaghati village under Dhodhai police limits when the Naxals started firing at them killing four jawans on the spot, Rajiv Shrivastav (IG) Naxal Operations said. Another jawan, injured in the attack, succumbed in Narayanpur hospital, he said.

The deceased personnel have been identified as Santosh Pahare, Chandan Singh, Tarachand, Rajendra Diwan and Santosh Yadav. Hearing the gunshots, jawans in the camp retaliated after which the Naxals fled from the spot, 300 kms from here. The Naxals also decamped with two weapons - an AK-47 and an INSAS rifle - of the jawans, the senior officer said.

Senior officials have reached the attack site and anti-naxal operations have been intensified in the area to nab the Maoists, who numbered around 150 and were hiding in the area to launch an attack on the police camp.