6 poll personnel among 11 killed in two Naxal attacks

Raipur: Six members of a polling party and five CRPF personnel were killed as Naxals struck twice on Saturday in gap of less than an hour, blowing up a bus and an ambulance in Bijapur and Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh.

10 persons were also injured in the two incidents.

The Naxals attacked the polling party near Ketulnar village at about 11 AM when it was returning after voting in the region, Additional Director General of Police (Naxal Operation) RK Vij told PTI.

Polling was held in the Naxal-affected Bastar constituency on April 10.

When the election team reached near a pond in Ketulnar village between Gudma and Kutru, Naxals triggered a landmine blast, he said. "Six polling personnel were killed on the spot and as many people were injured," the ADG added.

The rebels fled to the core forest after security personnel launched a retaliatory attack. Reinforcements were rushed to the spot and efforts are being made to retrieve the victims from the jungle, he said.

Less that one hour later and about 100 kms away, Naxals blew up an ambulance carrying CRPF personnel under Darbha police station.

The incident took place in Kamanar village when around nine CRPF personnel were travelling in 108 Sanjeevani ambulance, he said.

Five CRPF personnel were killed and four injured in the incident.