Police commando loses life in Naxal blast at Gadchiroli

Nagpur: A police commando of the specialised counter-naxal unit, C-60, was killed and 19 others injured in a landmine blast triggered by naxals in Gadchiroli Wednesday night. The deceased, identified as Suresh Linga Telaami, succumbed to multiple injuries at Bhamragarh hospital early on Thursday, Gadchiroli police said. He belonged to the C-60 team of Gadchiroli police.

A group of naxalites carried out the land mine blast on Wednesday, in which a total of 19 jawans including a police sub-inspector of Gadchiroli district police and the 37 battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sustained injuries in two separate incidents in Bhamragarh taluka of south Gadchiroli. The security forces launched an operation following inputs that several naxalites had sneaked into Maharashtra from Chhattisgarh, Gadchiroli police PRO told The Asian Age. Two jawans of Gadchiroli police and one CRPF constable were injured during exchange of fire with naxalites in the Koparshi-Pulnar jungle near Koti in Bhamragarh taluka.

Later, the naxalites managed to blow up an anti-mine vehicle with a high-intensity underground blast near Kier village, two kilometre from Hemalkasa Lok Biradari Prakalp on the road connecting Koti. The injured constables — Girdhar Tulavi and Vijaysingh Thakur, and CRPF jawan T Guniya, were shifted to Raipur by helicopter for treatment after the incident. At least seven personnel travelling in the vehicle sustained moderate injuries. The vehicle turned turtle due to heavy explosives planted below the road. In two encounters reported at different places in the district, the police managed to seize three bharmar rifles, 30 pellets, three rucksacks, two kilogram explosives in a kettle, medicines and some literature.