Chhattisgarh: BJP MLA killed in attack by Naxals in Dantewada
What's the story
Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada attacked a convoy of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Tuesday evening.
BJP MLA from Dantewada, Bheema Mandavi, who was also part of the convoy, was among those killed in the attack.
Apart from Mandavi, four others were killed in the attack carried out by Naxals only two days before the Lok Sabha elections begin.
Here are more details.
Twitter Post
Here are some pictures from the Dantewada Naxal attack
Chhattisgarh: BJP convoy attacked by Naxals in Dantewada. BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi was also in the convoy, further details awaited. pic.twitter.com/MhNVtar2aD
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2019
IED Blast
Bheema Mandavi's vehicle hit by an IED blast
P Sundar Raj, DIG (Anti-Naxal Operations) has confirmed that the Dantewada MLA has been killed in the Naxal attack.
MLA Bheema Mandavi's vehicle, which was the BJP convoy's last vehicle, was reportedly hit by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blast carried out by the Naxals. Following the IED blast, the Naxals opened fire, said reports.
CRPF's statement
CRPF has rushed reinforcements to the attack site
Following the Naxal attack, CRPF personnel have been rushed to the attack site in Shyamgiri in Dantewada.
CRPF stated, "Between Kuakonta and Shyamgiri in Dantewada, the convoy of BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi came under an IED attack today. The escort vehicle of State Police came under the blast. 5 personnel of Chhattisgarh State Police are critically injured. Reinforcement of CRPF has been rushed."
Quote
Bodies to be evacuated at earliest for identification: Sundar Raj
P Sundar Raj stated, "We have information of BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi, his driver, and 3 PSOs getting killed in IED blast in Dantewada, today evening. It was a powerful IED blast. Bodies to be evacuated at the earliest for identification."
Twitter Post
Here's a statement by Sundar Raj confirming Mandavi's death
P Sundar Raj, DIG-Anti-Naxal Ops: We have information of BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi, his driver and 3 PSOs getting killed in IED blast in Dantewada, today evening. It was a powerful IED blast. Bodies to be evacuated at the earliest for identification. #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/5liSjynJSO
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2019
Details
Mandavi and other BJP leaders were campaigning for LS polls
A group of BJP leaders, including MLA Bheema Mandavi, was campaigning in Dantewada for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections when the ultras targeted their convoy.
40-year-old Mandavi had defeated Devti Karma of the Congress in the Dantewada constituency in the Assembly polls held last year.
Lok Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh will be held in three phases: 11 April, 18 April, and 23 April.