IT Correspondent
Mumbai, August 14
Nagpur: One police constable was killed and another was critically wounded when Naxals opened fire on them at Kothi Village in Gadchiroli district in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra on Friday morning.
The deceased constable has been identified as Dushyant Nandeshwar, while his colleague Dinesh Bhosale has been admitted to local hospital. The Naxals fired upon them when they were in a civil dress buying some groceries in a nearby shop at about 8.30 AM.
In view of the attack, the police have intensified the vigil in the area. Friday’s attack was said to be an attempt to avenge the arrest of two of their colleagues during recent “shahid saptah” observed between 28 July and 03 August, by them to pay homage to their “martyrs”. Two Naxals were arrested, while two others had surrendered to the police during the week.
During “shahid saptah”, the police had detonated landmines weighing 10 kgs on Regdi-Kotmi road, with the help of bomb disposal squad, thus averting major blast in the area. The “ C-60” anti Naxal unit had completed the operation.
Despite strict measures, the Naxals have continued their covert operations in the region. Three months back, two jawans were killed by the Naxals during combing operation by police in Poyarkoti-Koparshi area in Bhamragad region of the same district.