Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik informed the Assembly the Maoist ambush in Malkangiri district today was to halt the construction work of Gurupriya bridge in the district.
Patnaik, while making a statement on the incident in the House said, since the Red rebels did not wish the bridge to be constructed, and the work has just started on the river, they wanted to send a signal to the State government to stop work.
He said, Intelligence Director and IG, Operation have left for the spot to take a stock of the situation.
While compensation of Rs 25 lakh will be given to each kin of three slain BSF jawans, the State government will give Rs 5 lakh to the deceased civilian, stated he.
“All the injured six have been shifted to Vizag for treatment,” Patnaik said.
Notably, three BSF personnel were killed and six jawans were seriously injured in a Maoist ambush in Malkangiri district early this morning.
According to police sources, the incident took place in the cut off area of Balimela reservoir near Sarkubandh in the vicinity of Chitrakonda. The BSF personnel, who were involved in combing and area domination in this Maoist infested region fell prey to a landmine blast and ambush by Maoists.
Fresh reinforcements of the Border Security Force have been rushed in from nearby locations, sources added.
BSF is deployed in the area for conducting anti-naxal operations and the squad, which went on patrol on Tuesday night, was on a similar task when the ambush happened.